Zdanek and Badger pace Lasell Women’s Soccer past JWU

NEWTON, Mass. – Seniors Erika Badger (Scituate, Mass.) and Carly Zdanek (Newton, N.J.) each netted two goals apiece in Lasell College's 4-1 victory over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) rival Johnson & Wales University Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field.

In a rematch of last year's GNAC Championship game, the Lasers secured their second straight victory, improving to 2-3 (2-0 GNAC) on the year. The Wildcats drop their first conference game of the season, falling to 3-4 (2-1 GNAC.)

The Lasers got on the board first in the 25th minute on a penalty kick, as Badger stuffed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. Badger is no strangers to the pressure of penalty kicks versus the Wildcats, netting the eventual game-winner on the road at Johnson & Wales last October to clinch the GNAC regular season title.

Lasell doubled up on its lead midway through the first half as Zdanek scored her first of two on the afternoon, connecting on a through-ball from Sabrina Morais (Arlington, Mass.) in the middle of the offensive zone. The reigning GNAC Offensive Player of the Year positioned herself near the left side of the box before slipping the ball past an outstretched Colleen Lynch (New Milford, Conn.)

Reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year Olivia Cairrao (Bristol, R.I.) swung some momentum back in the Wildcats favor with 3:46 remaining in the first half, capitalizing on a penalty kick for Johnson & Wales.

Sophomore Jaclyn Larsen (Florham Park, N.J.) had three shots for the Wildcats in the loss, including a scoring chance with under a minute remaining in the first half, beating a Lasell defender before a diving save from freshman goalkeeper Angela Sanzari (New Haven, Conn.) sent the Lasers into the break with a 2-1 advantage.

Lasell continued to apply pressure to Johnson & Wales midway through the second half, attempting three-straight corner kicks in 83 seconds, with Badger scoring on a corner in the Lasers third attempt.

Zdanek put the final dagger into the Wildcats, squandering any comeback hopes just three minutes later, streaking down the left side before tucking a shot from the top of the box just inside the right post.

Between the pipes Sanzari finished the victory with nine saves for the Lasers, while Lynch added three saves for the Wildcats.

Johnson & Wales returns to the pitch on the road Monday September 17th versus Eastern Connecticut State at 7:00 p.m. Lasell continues conference play, traveling to Anna Maria on Wednesday September 19th at 7:00 p.m.

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