CR
Caitlin Rotonnelli
  • Health Science
  • Class of 2020
  • Meredith, NH

Lasell Women's Soccer Topples Sharks in GNAC Opener 6-0

2017 Sep 12

Sophomore Caitlin Rotonnelli (Meredith, N.H.) and freshmen Erin Petrocelli (Hanover, Mass.) scored two goals apiece to lead the Lasell women's soccer team over the Simmons College Sharks, 6-0, on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field.

The Lasers garner their first win of the season and improve to 1-2, while keeping their undefeated Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) streak intact, a statistic that runs back to 2013. The Sharks dip to 1-2-1 overall and 0-1 in GNAC play.

The Lasers held a slight advantage in shots in the first half, 10-6, as both teams played a scoreless opening 18 minutes. At 17:47, senior Casey Meissner (Sandwich, Mass.) lofted a corner kick into the middle of the six-yard-box that found the foot of junior Erika Badger (Scituate, Mass.). Sharks senior keeper Casey Halle (Watertown, Mass.) was there to stuff Badger's attempt, but Rotonnelli was there to put the ball away for the first goal of the game.

Petrocelli scored her first collegiate goal at 33:09 to give the Lasers a 2-0 bump, finishing a textbook through ball from Sarah Cullen (Marblehead, Mass.). The Sharks had their greatest opportunity just three minutes later, a header shot by Kashka Gammon (Nashua, N.H.) that found its way past senior keeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.). However, junior Sabrina Morais (Arlington, Mass.) kept the Sharks at bay and was on the line to clear the ball away and out.

The Lasers kept their momentum going, and outshot the Sharks 14-2 in the second half. Badger, Petrocelli, Rotonnelli, and Meissner each found the back of the net in the second stanza en route to the 6-0 final.

LaClair improves to 1-2 on the year with four saves in 86 minutes of play, while sophomore reliever Hayden Wheeler was not contested in 3:45 of relief. Halle had a tremendous showing in the cage for the Sharks, stopping 11 shots on goal.