REGIS SLIPS PAST SVC, 1-0

WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College Women's Soccer Team wrapped up their 2014 fall campaign by eeking out a 1-0 victory against New England Collegiate Conference rival Southern Vermont College on Saturday afternoon during a nor'easter at Regis Stadium. With the loss, the Mountaineers fall to 7-10-0, 5-4 NECC and the victory propels the Pride to 10-5-2, 7-2, NECC matching their win total from last season while also earning their most conference victories in three years. Regis ends the season on a four game winning streak in which they've outscored their opponents 7-0.

Prior to the game, the team honored five seniors Shannon Simonelli (Providence, R.I.), Adena Joseph (Stoughton, Mass.), Kristen Abreu (Woburn, Mass.), Jackie Rocheville (Salem, Mass.) and Jasmine Vivar (Attleboro, Mass.) for their contributions to the program. Adena, Kristen, Jackie and Jasmine started their Regis soccer careers as freshman in the fall of 2011 while Shannon joined the squad as a sophomore transfer.

Following the ceremony the teams took the field and the first half of play began. The Mountaineers started off the contest with a shot on net a minute into the game. Lixsa Arlet Sandoval (Stockton, Calif.) attempted a shot that was denied by Pride junior goalie Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.). The Pride then rebutted the Mountaineer shot attempt with four straight shots of their own. Jasmin Vivar, freshman midfielder Olivia Hamill (Sudbury, Mass.), Adena Joseph and Shannon Simonelli all had scoring chances but their attempts went wide, high or were stifled by Mountaineer goalie freshman Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.).

Southern Vermont responded with their best scoring chance of the game. After a turnover at midfield by the Pride, midfielder Melodie Orrell (Gloucester, Mass.) gobbled up the ball and began pushing it through the middle of the Regis defense. Orrell then sent a through ball to Mountaineer leading scorer sophomore Lauren Nesshoever (Rutland, Vt.) who stayed onside and found herself with a one-on-one chance with Regis goalie Rachel Gagnon. Nesshoever made her move but Gagnon didn't bite on the move, stayed square and thwarted the shot attempt keeping the game scoreless at 0-0.

The Pride kept up the pressure turning in four shots before the break including a great chance by sophomore midfielder Sofia Neri (Lincoln, Mass.) before the break, who headed the ball off a corner kick from teammate Jackie Rocheville that ended up being blocked by a Mountaineer defender. Regis held the advantage in shots 12-4 and in corner kicks 2-0 at the midway point.

The teams kept exchanging blows during the second half as each team had multiple possessions in the opponent's defensive zone. The Pride finally broke through during the 76th minute after a corner kick opportunity. Jackie Rocheville took the chance for Regis and lifted the ball high into the air, the ball was bouncing around in the box but was cleared to just outside the Mountaineer attacking zone. Adena Joseph gobbled up the loose ball and began to push it up the right side, she headed into the box and slid the ball to the middle for a waiting Joana Rosa who was standing alone near the middle of the net. Joseph's cross found Rosa's foot and Rosa tipped it into the lower right corner of the net. Rosa's team leading eighth goal of the season ended up being the game winner as the Mountaineers couldn't knot up the score.

Rachel Gagnon earned her eighth consecutive shut-out victory facing seven shots, while managing six saves. The victory propelled Gagnon to 10-5-2 on the season. Mountaineer goalie Melissa Mascari made 14 saves on 22 shots during the defeat.

Both Regis and Southern Vermont have qualified for the 2014 NECC Women's Soccer Championship, which begins with quarterfinal play on Tuesday, November 4. Seeding for the tournament, along with sites and start times, will be announced by the conference later this weekend.