Emerson Claims Charles River Cup Over Women's Soccer

Emerson Claims Charles River Cup Over Women's Soccer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Emerson College's goal in the first half proved to be the game-winner and the Lions retained the fifth annual Charles River Cup for the second consecutive season with a 1-0 victory over Lesley University tonight at Edward Field. Emerson improves to 3-4-0 overall in 2016 with the win while the Lynx slide to 4-2-2 on the season.

Lesley now holds a 3-2 advantage in the Cup series over the last five seasons.

Emerson scored the lone goal of the game in the 22nd minute of play freshman Veronica Alberts (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) raced down the left side and sent a cross to an open Paige Haley (San Diego, Calif.), who one-timed the pass into the back of the net for her fifth marker of the season.

The Lynx nearly got on the board five minutes earlier to stake a 1-0 edge of their own when senior Julie Essick (Boerne, Texas) sent a free kick to the far right post. Sophomore Jordan Mitchell (Sachse, Texas) came rushing in and connected with the ball in the air but her attempt trickled off the post and out of bounds.

Lesley had a chance to tie late in the second half when Mitchell got her foot on a loose ball in the Emerson box, but her attempt was rushed due to a charging Melanie Escobar (Torrington, Conn.) and the ball rolled wide of the post.

Escobar made one save in the shutout and improved to 3-4-0 on the season in between the pipes while her counterpart, Lilly Donovan (Newburyport, Mass.) also made one save and suffered the loss.

Lesley outshot Emerson by a 7-3 margin, including a 3-0 edge in the second half, and have four opportunities from the corner compared to just two for the guests.

The Lynx will jump back into New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday when they travel to Elms College at 2:30p. Elms and Lesley have met in each of the last three NECC title matches. Emerson will travel to Trinity College at 4:00p on Thursday.