CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Blazers got two goals from leading scorer Krystyna Gagne as Elms College walked away victorious over Lesley University in their NAC Quarterfinal match up.
It took Gagne only 26 seconds into the first half to score the game-winning goal as sophomore Kelsey Battige sent a pass through the Lynx defenders to Gagne, who hit the left corner of the net past keeper Hailee Lowe (Hamilton, Mass.).
With their leading scorer Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) out of the game in the first half due to injury, the score remained 1-0 going into halftime.
In the second half, the Lynx out shot their opponents 23-6 with several close opportunities to score. In the 60th minute, Lynx freshman Lauren Mastellone (Howell, N.J.) crossed to Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.) whose header sailed wide left. Just a minute later, Cabral-Pini had another chance to head the ball in off a Cathryn Folkestad (Ipswich, Mass.) corner kick, but this one missed wide right.
At 64:50, Gagne would score her second goal of the game unassisted as she raced up the field by herself at the keeper. Lowe came out of the goalie box to stop Gagne and ended up deflecting the shot right back to the Blazers striker. Gagne finished the play with an empty net goal to put Elms up 2-0.
The Lynx kept shooting, but Blazers keeper Shannon Donnelly made six saves in the half (seven total) to post a playoff shut out. The game ended with a final score of 2-0 and Elms advanced onto the NAC Semifinals to face the winning of #8 Johnson State College and #1 UMaine-Farmington.
The loss ends Lesley amazing turnaround season in which they went from just 2 wins in 2006 to 14 in 2007. To learn more about the Lesley University women's soccer team, please visit their website.