Brouillette, Miranda Lift Suffolk to GNAC Finals
Miranda tallies her 14th goal of the year as Brouillette stops 16 shots in 1-0 shutout over Simmons in GNAC semifinals.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
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Team Stats
Simmons
| Game Statistics | Simmons | Suffolk |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 28 (16) | 7 (7) |
| Saves | 6 | 16 |
| Fouls | 9 | 13 |
| Corner Kicks | 8 | 3 |
| Offsides | 1 | 3 |
The Suffolk University Women's Soccer team were victorious, 1-0 over the Simmons College Sharks in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) semifinals on Tuesday evening at Dilbody Stadium in Somerville.
Junior Melissa Brouillette (Shelton, Conn.) made 16 saves for Suffolk, while senior Taylor Miranda (Smithtown, N.Y.) scored the game's lone goal in the seventy-first minute as the Rams advance to the GNAC finals for the second time in three seasons.
The seventh-seeded Sharks had plenty of opportunities all night as they put out 28 shots in total in the contest but could not get anything by Brouillette, who recorded her 16th career shutout and fourth of the season on Tuesday.
Miranda's strike was her team leading 14th of the season. She broke in all alone on Sharks' sophomore goalkeeper Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) and had her initial shot stopped. After the rebound came loose, Miranda was able to jar it free putting home her fifth game-winning goal of the year and second of the playoffs.
Senior Kristyn Heuslein (Manchester, N.H.) and sophomore Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) led the offensive charge for the Sharks as they each recorded three shots on goal in the contest.
The Sharks kept Brouillette busy in the second half as they put off 10 shots on goal in the period. Brouillette made several dazzling saves in the period including three in a ninety second frame midway through the half.
Despite holding a 28-7 overall edge in shots in the game, Simmons was held scoreless for their second consecutive playoff game. They advanced into Tuesday's semifinals after topping second seed Albertus Magnus, 3-2 in a shootout. The loss ends their season at an 8-10-1 mark.
Suffolk will now take on top-seeded Lasell College in the GNAC Championship on Saturday afternoon. The Lasers advanced after defeating Emmanuel College, 5-2 in Tuesday's other GNAC playoff game. It will be the second time the two teams square off for the conference crown and automatic berth into the NCAA Division-III Tournament.
Lasell defeated Suffolk earlier this season, 4-0 on October 17. The Lasers have won all eight of the meetings between the two teams.
Tuesday's win improves Suffolk's record to 7-11-1 on the 2013 season.