BOSTON, Mass. – Senior midfielder Casey Decareau (Haverhill, Mass.) buried a penalty kick in the 52nd minute in what was the game-winner to help the Lynx retain the Charles River Cup with a 2-0 win over Emerson College this afternoon at Rotch Field. It was the first time the two teams have played since the 2011 season, where the Lynx secured the first Charles River Cup with a 5-0 win over the Lions. With the win, Lesley improves to 4-0-0 on the season while Emerson drops to 1-1-0.
Lesley freshman Cassidy Hopkins (Porter, Tx.) helped set up the first goal as she carried the ball into the right side of the box before she was taken down, giving the Lynx a penalty-shot. Decareau sent a shot into the lower left corner of the goal, past a diving Allie Altman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) to give the Lynx a 1-0 advantage.
Lesley added another goal 18 minutes later when sophomore midfielder Melinda Robinson (Plano, Tx.) sent a cross into the middle of the box. Senior Alexis Giusti (Meridian, Calif.) flicked the ball, finding classmate Veronica Halen (San Diego, Calif.) who sent a one-timed blast past the keeper, giving the Lynx a 2-0 cushion. The goal was Halen's third of the season. Giusti was credited with her first assist of the season.
Lesley outshot Emerson by a distinct 22-10 margin, including a 12-3 advantage in the second half. The Lynx also held a 5-4 edge on corner kicks over the home team.
Junior Emileigh Lloyd (Middletown, Pa.), who started between the pipes for the Lynx, combined with sophomore Jackie Berard (Coventry, R.I.) to make five saves in the shutout. Today was the second shutout of the season for the Lynx after blanking Suffolk University in the season-opener.
Lesley will continue their five-game road trip when they travel to Anna-Maria College on Monday, September 9th at 4:30p. The two teams last played in 2011 when the Lynx topped the AMCATS 8-0 in Paxton, Mass.
Lynx senior forward Veronica Halen on today's game:
Highlights from the 2013 Charles River Cup: