Strong Second Half Powers Women's Soccer Past SJC, 2-1, During GNAC Opener Saturday

STANDISH, Maine – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's soccer team snapped a three-game losing skid by opening Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a victory on the road at Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC), 2-1, Saturday afternoon at the SJC Athletics Complex in Standish, Maine. After a scoreless first half, USJ scored twice to pick up the teams first win of the season. With the result, the Blue Jays improve to 1-3-0 on the year and 1-0-0 in GNAC play, while the Monks drop to 0-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference.

KEY MOMENTS

• USJ looked to get on the board early, forcing two saves out of the SJC goalkeeper inside the opening 15 minutes.
• SJC nearly found the games first goal late in the first half, but USJ junior goalkeeper Allison Drake (Plymouth, Conn.) tallied her lone save of the half to keep the game scoreless entering halftime.
• The Blue Jays would finally break the deadlock at the 55:34 mark, as junior forward Alana Picard (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and senior forward Kelsi Ursini (Groton, Conn.) combined for a passing combination that led to junior defender Zoe Zappone (Plymouth, Conn.), who fired her shot into the net to give USJ a 1-0 lead.
• USJ wasted little time finding a second, as Ursini and Zappone notched assists on a freshman midfielder Julia Loughman (Wolcott, Conn.) goal at the 56:25 mark to extend the advantge to 2-0.
• SJC would not go away though, cutting the deficit to one, 2-1, after a goal at the 73:49 mark.
• However, the USJ defense would not allow another goal, as the Blue Jays held on for the 2-1 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Loughman scored her second goal of the year, and first game-winner in her career.
• Zappone tallied her first goal of the season.
• The Monks outshot the Blue Jays, 15-8.
• Drake recorded eight saves on the day to pick up the win.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays wrap up a five-game road trip to start the season on Wednesday, September 11, heading to Boston to face Simmons University. Kickoff against the Shark at Daly Field is set for 7:00 p.m.

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