Kneeland Nets Career-High 26 Saves as AMCATS Fall to Lasell, 5-0

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College women's soccer goalkeeper Kate Kneeland (Windham, Maine) tallied a career-high 26 saves but the AMCATS suffered a 5-0 loss to the Lasers of Lasell College on Wednesday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

The win boosts the Lasers to 8-2-1 overall and 5-0-1 in GNAC play, while Anna Maria falls to 2-9 overall and 1-5 in league action. 

KNEELAND'S RECORD

With today's performance, Kneeland tops her previous career-best of 24 saves, which was recorded during her freshman season against Simmons on October 11, 2014.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lasers wasted little time getting on the board as they netted their first goal just 2:45 into the game on their third shot of the day. From there, the Lasers would go on to outshoot the AMCATS 30-4 in the first half alone. They tallied their second goal in the 32nd minute.

With four minutes left to play in the first half Anna Maria was awarded a direct kick from 20-yards out and Rebecca Mauricio (Pawtucket, Mass.) placed a beautiful shot on net, but Lasell's keeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) jumped up to tip the shot over the net.

Anna Maria was awarded a corner kick off the play, which set up freshman Courtney Ryan (West Baldwin, Maine) for a header on net. She repeated the same play on the team's next possession, but LaClair was there for the save on the first one and the second header went wide.

Lasell dominated the second half, scoring two goals in quick succession in the 47th and 52nd minutes and adding a final tally in the 66th minute.

SCORING

Megan Cullen (Amesbury, Mass.) scored the first goal of the game for Lasell. Carly Zdanek (Newton, N.J.) recorded the assist after her point-blank shot was rebounded to the feet of Cullen, who fired in over a diving AMCAT goalkeeper.

Nearly 27 minutes later, Lasell took a 2-0 lead off a corner kick was played to Erin Smith (Gorham, Maine). Smith dribbled around an AMCAT defender and passed to Casey Meissner (Sandwich, Mass.), who one-touched it to score just inside the far right post.

Lasell added a third goal just 1:42 into the second half as Cullen sent a through-ball up to Zdanek, who stayed on-sides but beat the AMCATS' back line for a one-on-one with Kneeland. The shot was to the left of Kneeland's outstretched arms.

Zdanek and Cullen teamed up for another goal in the 53rd minute as Zdanek gave a through-ball to Cullen, who's shot was tipped by Kneeland but ultimately rolled into the net.

The final Lasell goal saw Morgan Pinksten (Hubbardston, Mass.) net a goal, assisted by Meissner.

GOALKEEPERS

Lasell managed to get all four of their goalkeepers into the game today. LaClair earned the victory with two saves in 56:39, while Hayden Wheeler (Hubbardston, Mass.), Chloe Shugrue and Caitlin Greco (Higganum, Conn.) all split the remaining time.

WHAT'S NEXT

The AMCATS embark on a three-game road streak on Saturday as they travel to Emmanuel for a 3:00 p.m. GNAC game.