The Suffolk University Women’s Soccer team (13-2-1, 10-2 GNAC) will open up the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) playoffs on Sunday, October 31 at 5:30pm at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville. The top-seeded Rams will host eighth-seeded Emmanuel College (9-10, 6-6 GNAC).
The matchup will feature two fifty goal scorers as Suffolk’s Leslie Hayden (Ross, Calif.) and the Saints’ Amber DiNucci (New Bedford, Mass.) each reached the career milestone this season.
The Suffolk offense has been record-setting this season, as the Rams who currently hold the fifth-ranked offense in the nation scoring 4.07 goals per game. Hayden has been the catalyst of the Rams offense as she currently leads all NCAA Division-III players with 17 assists on the year. Her 14 assists in GNAC contests this year is also a new conference record. Since transitioning from forward to outside midfield the Rams have gone 12-1 since the move. The Suffolk offense has also benefitted as the Rams have outscored their opponents 62-12 in the span. In 16 games this year, she has posted a total of 43 points, scoring 13 goals and adding 17 assists. The 50 goals tie Hayden for eighth all-time in GNAC history, while her 1.11 goals per game average is fourth-best in league history. In her three-year career Hayden now posts 123 total points (50 goals, 23 assists), which currently ranks her ninth all-time in GNAC history, while her 2.73 points per game in second most in GNAC history. Freshman Taylor Miranda (Smithtown, N.Y.) has also been leading the charge as the freshman leads the GNAC in goals (21) and points (43). Miranda put her name in the GNAC record books in 2010 with 37 points in conference games and also set the mark with 17 goals in league play as well. The freshman is currently ranked 5th among all NCAA Divison-III players averaging 3.20 points per game. Freshman Gabrielle Balstrier (Mohton, Penn.) has not gone overlooked scoring 43 points this year, with 15 goals and 13 assists. Balestrier received New England honors earlier this year as she was named New England Player of the Week for Division-III soccer by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) on September 20. Miranda (11), Balestrier (18) and Hayden (24) are all among the top-25 players in the nation in total points this season. Freshman Monica Wolf (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) has also scored seven goals and added six assists for the Rams for a total of 20 points this year. Freshman Meghan McHale (Halifax, Mass.) is currently ranked 16th among all players in the nation with 10 assists as well. Senior goalkeeper Emily Joyce (Easton, Mass.) has won all 13 games in goal for the Rams. Joyce has collected seven shutouts in 2010 as she is currently tied for the lead in the GNAC in that category. Her .822 save percentage is currently ranked 5th among GNAC goalkeepers, while her 1.18 goals against average is ranked 4th.
Emmanuel comes into the weekend winners of six of their last eight contests. After posting a 9-10 overall record and 6-6 mark in conference play during the regular season, the Saints will be looking to make a run at the program's 3rd GNAC title. Emmanuel has advanced to the GNAC finals for the past three consecutive seasons. The Saints won the conference championship in 2007 and lost in overtime in both the 2008 and 2009 title games. Emmanuel will be led offensively by DiNucci, who has seven goals and two assists on the year. Three of her goals this season have been game-winners. Both her and Hayden are tied for 8th all-time in GNAC history with 50 goals in their careers. Freshman Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.) leads the Saints in points with 20, scoring eight goals and adding four assists.
It will be Suffolk’s first postseason appearance in the program’s four year varsity history. Suffolk topped Emmanuel, 6-2 in the earlier meeting this season on September 18.
(Portions of this story were courtesy of Emmanuel College Athletic Communications)