HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Lesley University women's soccer team saw their season come to an end following a 5-0 setback to No. 14 Stevens Institute of Technology in the First Round of the NCAA Championship this evening on the Ducks' campus.
The Lynx, who appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season, finish their 2015 campaign at 16-6. The Ducks improve to 17-3-1 and will continue in Second Round action tomorrow at 5:00p and will play the winner of this evening's second match between Bowdoin College and Johns Hopkins University.
The Ducks used a quick start to pull ahead early in the match. Kristen Goncalves buried a one-timed cross from Olivia Butera in the fourth minute of play to put the hosts up 1-0. Goncalves would strike once again just ten minutes later on a similar play as she buried a cross at the far post for her second marker of the game and 12th of the season. Zisi Komar and Rana Nassif were credited with the assists on the play.
Gabby Pagkalinawan would put the hosts up 3-0 in the 34th minute when she finished a feed from Nassif and the Ducks would head into the break with the three goal advantage.
Lesley's best chance of the half came in the 27th minute. Sophomore Karlie Rubin (San Diego, Calif.) settled a ball in the middle of the field and sent a beautiful ball into the box. Freshman Samantha Bessey (Algonquin, Ill.), who scored the game-winner in the NECC Championship last Saturday, was able to get her head on the ball but Stevens keeper Lindsey Mahnken was there to corral the ball.
After the break, the Ducks continued to pressure the Lynx and added a tally just 2:32 into the second stanza when Komar gathered a rebound and buried a shot from six yards out for her 19th of the season. Nassif would cap the scoring in 55th minute of play with a shot from the top of the box that found the top left corner of the goal to give the hosts a 5-0 edge.
Lesley keeper Lilly Donovan (Newburyport, Mass.) was strong in between the pipes for the Lynx, making nine stops in her NCAA debut.
Stevens outshot their guests 25-5 on the night while each sided had three opportunities from the corner.