Postseason Preview: Women’s Soccer Set to Host Albertus Magnus in GNAC Play-In Thursday Night
NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier women's soccer team earned the seventh seed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament after posting an in-conference record of 8-5-2 and will host No. 10 Albertus Magnus (5-6-4 GNAC) in the Play-In Round on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Merrill Field. This is the first home playoff game for the Raiders since they defeated Saint Joseph (Conn.) in double overtime on Oct. 24, 2000.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Daniel Milton, the Raiders finished the regular season with eight conference wins, tying the single-season record which was set back in 1999. After falling in the season-opener at Fitchburg St., Rivier went on a six-game winning streak to jump out to 6-1 on the season.
The Albertus Magnus Falcons were the team to slow the streaking Raiders to a halt, defeating Rivier 4-3 on home turf on Sept. 23.
After a pair of draws in the next two matchups, the Raiders responded with two straight GNAC victories over Saint Joseph's (Me.) and Anna Maria to sit at 8-2-2. A pair of shutout losses for the Raiders to Colby-Sawyer and Lasell were rectified with a 4-0 shutout of their own over Dean. In the final week of the regular season, Rivier fell to the eventual top seeds of the GNAC in order, falling to JWU-Providence at home before dropping a road matchup at Emmanuel (Mass.)
Rivier finished seventh in the conference with 32 goals and fifth in shutouts with seven.
Graduate student Jordan Butters led the team in points with 24, posting nine goals and six assists over 18 games. Graduate Emily Lizotte and junior Kaylee Magoon finished with seven goals apiece. At keeper, sophomore Bri Nugent and junior Maya Puma have seen a majority of the time in net down the stretch. Nugent made 14 starts on the season, posting a regular season goals-against average of 1.68 and a save percentage of .787.
Albertus had notable wins over Simmons and Rivier to help guide them into the final playoff spot. The Falcons have been led by senior Erina Ismaili, whose ten goals and two assists top the team with 22 points. In between the pipes, sophomore keeper Amy Stevens has been the primary starter, with a 2.12 goals-against average and .770 save percentage.
The winner of Thursday's contest will advance to the GNAC Quarterfinals at Emmanuel on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Roberto Clemente Field.
