Somerville, MA - The Suffolk University Women's Soccer team finished off the 2009 season in style as they defeated the Pine Manor Gators, 4-1 on a chilly Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore Leslie Hayden (Ross, CA) capped off a terrific season scoring twice bringing her season total to 20 goals.
The Rams jumped out to an early 1-0 edge just nine minutes into the game as sophomore Gina Dean (Revere, MA) scored her fourth goal of the season off of a takeaway deep inside the Gator's zone. Dean would finish the day with a goal and two assists as she finishes second on the team in points with 15.
Junior captain Nancy Roxo (Shelton, CT) also got into the scoring act as she added a goal late in the game putting home a header off of a pass from Dean for her first career goal in three seasons with the Rams.
The story of the game, as has been much of the season was the fancy footwork of Hayden, who became the eleventh player in GNAC history to get to the 20 goal mark, and first since 2002. Hayden put the Rams up 2-0 in the 25th minute of the game as she beat Gators' goalkeeper Margaret Roberts (Allentown, PA) with a shot from twenty-five yards outside of the goal. Hayden later added another goal a little over eight minutes later converting on a pass from Dean for a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.
Despite drawing much of the attention from opposing coaches and defenses in finding ways to guard and stop her, Hayden has put up quite the impressive numbers in her first two seasons for Suffolk. In 29 career games she has now scored 37 goals (1.27 per game which would be the highest in GNAC history). She has also amassed 80 career points in that span (2.75 points per game, second most in GNAC history). Earlier this season, Hayden became the 21st player in NCAA history to score at least 6 goals in a game (setting a GNAC record for goals in a game) when she reached the feat in a 9-0 victory over Mass. Maritime Academy on October 14. Recognized last year as the GNAC Rookie of the Year, Hayden has been named to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll on four occasions this season, and has scored three hat tricks in 2009.
Senior Vanessa Kelly (Santa Barbara, CA) scored her first goal of the year for the Gators in the game's 63rd minute to put Pine Manor on the board. Kelly converted on a pass from sophomore Alicia Grenier (Swansea, MA) who managed to weave her way through the Rams defense to set up the goal.
Roberts, was busy in goal for Pine Manor making eight saves in the loss, but did stop the Rams point blank on several of their scoring opportunities.
Junior Emily Joyce (Easton, MA) needed to make only one save for her fourth victory of the season. She finishes the season with a goals against average of 1.88.
Suffolk wraps up the 2009 season with a 4-8-3 record, going 1-8-3 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play. The Rams did not qualify for the GNAC playoffs that will start this weekend. Despite their record, Suffolk did manage to keep many games close, with three ties and also sending two other games to overtime. Four of their eight losses on the season were by one-goal. The Rams do have a lot to look forward to in the future as seven of their regular starters are listed as underclassmen, and they did not have a senior on roster in 2009.