NEWTOWN, Mass. - For the first time in program history, the Albertus Magnus College women's soccer team defeated the Lasers of Lasell University in a dramatic 3-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory on Wednesday afternoon in Newtown, Mass.

With the win, Head Coach Nicholas Wajnowski has the second-most all-time coaching wins by an Albertus Magnus soccer head coach with 126, trailing Falcon great George Bedocs by just six victories.

HEAR FROM COACH
"We kept grinding and fighting," said Wajnowski. "I'm extremely proud of this team. That's a win every single player that's worn an Albertus jersey can be proud of."

THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 3 | Lasell 2
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (6-4, 4-3 GNAC) | Lasell (6-3, 6-1 GNAC)
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lasers dominated the action early, tallying eight shots in the first 22 minutes. The Falcons were up for the challenge, however, as they blocked three of the shots, while Michelle Mecca (Greenwood Lake, N.Y.) saved two more.

Once Albertus was able to get the ball to their end of the field, they quickly made the home team pay. On Albertus' first corner kick of the game, Keegan Riccio (West Haven, Conn.) sent the ball to the left side of the box, where Haley Andrews (Prospect, Conn.) promptly headed it by the keeper to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

Lasell's attack finally broke through in the 37th minute, with Serena Speight tying the score at 1-1 before halftime. Speight snuck a shot by Mecca as she was running across the top of the box.

With the game still tied at 1-1 in the 73rd minute, the Falcons again took control of the game with the first career goal by junior defender Bridget Rosikiewicz (Naugatuck, Conn.). Albertus again scored off of a corner, as Riccio found Rosikiewicz for another header to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, their lead was short lived as Lasell evened the score at two apiece just over four minutes later. On a transition attempt, Julia Vaillancourt sent a deep pass to Alyssa DeOliveira, who finished to knot the score.

Just like the first two, Albertus' deciding goal was scored on a set play orchestrated by Riccio. The junior midfielder sent a free kick right into the bottom of the cross bar, where the ball shot right down past the goal line. The game-winning goal came with just 2:28 left in the contest as the visitors held on to pick up the crucial conference victory.

BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Michelle Mecca (W, 6-4) - 13 Shots on Goal | 2 Goals-Against | 11 Saves
Lasell: Kyli Swann (L, 4-2) - 3 Shots on Goal | 3 Goals-Against | 0 Saves

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Lasers owned a 32-6 advantage in shots in the match.
• Lasell also led Albertus in corners, 11-3.
• The Falcons saved 11 shots to the Lasers' zero.
• Riccio finished the game with four points on one goal and two assists.
• Riccio led the Falcons with two shots.
• Five Falcons tallied shots in the contest.

NOTEWORTHY

• Tonight's win is the Falcons' first ever against the Lasers.
• Rosikiewicz's goal is the first of her collegiate career.
• Riccio set a new career-high with four points.
• Andrews has scored a goal in each of the last three games.

UP NEXT
The Falcons return to the pitch on Saturday, Oct. 9, for a GNAC matchup against Colby-Sawyer College at 1 p.m. at Celentano Field.