QUINCY, Mass.— The Lesley University women's soccer team stayed a perfect 3-0-0 early in the 2013 season as they topped the Eastern Nazarene Lions 2-1 tonight under the lights of Veterans Memorial Stadium. Tonight was the season-opener for Eastern Nazarene who falls to 0-1-0.
Lesley captured a 1-0 edge early in the first half as junior midfielder Alexis Giusti (Meridian, Calif.) tallied her second mark of the season as she beat the Lions' backline and beat the goalie on a breakaway in the 17th minute.
Eastern Nazarene leveled the match at 1-1 in the 26th minute as Jules Speno (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) toe-flicked the ball behind the visitor's backline into the path of Abby Spitler (Gaithersburg, Md.). Spitler maneuvered around Lesley goalkeeper Jackie Berard (Coventry, R.I.) before rolling the ball into the goal for her first of the fall.
The Lynx registered 13 first-half shots while the Lions managed seven. Lesley benefitted from four corner kicks in the opening half and Eastern Nazarene manufactured two.
The visitors reclaimed a one-goal advantage in the 58th minute of play when freshman Morgan Zack (Bellevue, Wash.) notched her first goal of the year and of her collegiate career, slotting a loose ball inside the left post in what proved to be the game-winner.
Eastern Nazarene concluded the contest with 12 shots while Lesley fired 21 on the evening. Each squad earned a pair of corners in the second stanza as the Lions finished with four and the Lynx totaled six.
Sophomore Kristen Farley (Westminster, Mass.) tallied eight saves in goal for the home side. Berard and junior Emileigh Lloyd (Middletown, Pa.) combined for four saves for Lesley.
The Lynx return to action on Saturday, September 7th when they head to Emerson College for the annual Charles River Cup. Kick-off is set for 1:00p.