REGIS FALLS TO BLUE JAYS, 2-0

WESTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) scored a goal in each half as the Blue Jays defeated Regis College, 2-0, on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference women's soccer action in Weston, Mass. The Blue Jays move to 4-4 on the year, while the Pride fall to 2-3-1.

The game started out as a battle for possession as neither team could get their offenses going. Regis had the first chance in the sixth minute as Jackie Rocheville (Salem, Mass.) put a corner kick into the box, but it was cleared away by the Blue Jays' defense. The Pride had another chance two minutes later as Olivia Hamill (Sudbury, Mass.) tried to flick a header to a cutting Joana Rosa (Roxbury, Mass.), but USJ keeper Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.) came out to break up the threat.

Saint Joseph had their first chance of the day in the 13th minute as a handball at the top of the box by Regis led to a free kick for the Blue Jays. Kate Mirabella (Seymour, Conn.) stepped to the line and fired a shot that sailed just over the crossbar. Nearly 12 minutes later, the Blue Jays had their second chance when Sara Barnick (Watertown, Conn.) played a cross opposite post to Mirabella. The senior chased down the ball and fired a shot on net that landed outside the right post, keeping the score at 0-0.

The Blue Jays turned up their attack over the final 20 minutes of the half as a through ball from Emily Burke (Windsor Locks, Conn.) set up Amanda Montano (North Haven, Conn.) with a one-on-one with the Regis keeper, Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.). Montano fired toward the left post and Gagnon slid to her right and snagged the ball out of the air to stop the goal. Montano had another chance several minutes later as another nifty pass left her alone with Gagnon again, and the junior keeper was up to the task again, stoning Montano to keep it deadlocked at 0-0.

USJ finally broke through in the 43rd minute as Jaclyn Steeves (Everett, Mass.) was taken down from behind in the box by a Regis a defender, earning the visitors a penalty kick. Emily Burke stepped to the line and buried her fourth goal of the season to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.

Regis earned a corner kick in the final minute of the half, and had a chance when Rocheville's corner went to Shannon Simonelli (Providence, R.I.) on the opposite post. Simonelli played the ball back in, connecting with Tais Salles' (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) head, but the ball sailed wide, and USJ entered the half with the 1-0 lead.

Coming out of the break, the Blue Jays kept up the pressure as they attempted a pair of corners and three shots in the opening 10 minutes of the period. Their best chance early came in the 52nd minute as Burke and Mirabella worked a give-and-go that left Mirabella open on the right side, but her shot sailed high of its mark.

Regis nearly found the equalizer when Simonelli played a nice ball over the top to Joana Rosa nearly a minute later. Rosa outran the defense and got a shot off, but Dodge was there for the stop to preserve the one goal lead.

In the 71st minute, the Blue Jays scored an insurance goal when Dayna Gambino (Newington, Conn.) played a corner into the box that was knocked out of Rachel Gagnon's hands. The ball landed on the feet of Emily Burke, who turned and fired, and her shot deflected off Lindsey Cifaldi (Wolcott, Conn.) and into the back of the net to give USJ the two goal cushion.

Jasmin Vivar (Attleboro, Mass.) and Tais Salles worked in tandem for a pair of chances as through balls from Vivar kept finding the feet of Salles for open looks. The freshman, however, could not convert as her shot in the 74th minute trickled just wide of the opposite post. Vivar had the final good look for the Pride with less than seven minutes to play, but her shot was blocked at the top of the box. The Blue Jays defense cleared the ball and kept Regis from threatening again as they picked up the 2-0 victory.

Saint Joseph outshot the Pride at a 21-8 clip, while both teams earned four corners apiece. Melissa Dodge improved to 2-3 on the year and made three saves. Rachel Gagnon suffered the setback while making six saves.

The Crimson and Gold open up New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday afternoon as Regis hosts Elms College in a 1:00 p.m. matchup as a part of Pride Fest. The University of Saint Joseph travels to Suffolk on Saturday night for a 5:00 p.m. Great Northeast Athletic Conference match.