WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The fifth-seeded Albertus Magnus College women's soccer team saw its postseason come to an end as the Falcons suffered a 3-0 loss to the fourth-seeded Blue Jays of the University of Saint Joseph's (CT) in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Soccer Tournament on a damp and chilly Saturday evening. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #4 Saint Joseph (CT) 3 | #5 Albertus Magnus 0
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (11-6) | Saint Joseph (CT) (13-3-1)
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Jays roared out of the gate early, ripping off four shots over the first 15 minutes and keeping the Falcons on their toes. Albertus was not to be outdone, firing off their own shot when Keegan Riccio (West Haven, Conn.) smoked a shot towards the uprights that sailed just wide of the net. 

Saint Joseph's took control of the ball from there, recording three shots and two corner kicks before Maxine Muscatello rifled a shot into the back right corner of the net that snuck under the fingertips of Falcon's netminder Mecca for the first score of the game. 

The Falcons fired off two more shots within the next five minutes, but neither was able to get past Blue Jays goalkeeper Victoria Schaffner. The teams continued to trade shots through the remainder of the half and the teams went into the halftime break, with the Blue Jays holding the 1-0 advantage. 

The Blue Jays came out hot again to start the second half, getting off three shots and a corner kick within the first 10 minutes. However, the offensive attack wasn't good enough to phase Mecca, who repelled the attack with three saves and maintained the 1-0 deficit. At the 57th-minute, the Blue Jays struck again, this time from Marisa Brough, who roped a shot into the net on an assist from Jenna Zupp to give the Blue Jays the 2-0 advantage. 

The teams continued to battle for the next 15 minutes, with neither team able to put up a tally. At the 78th-minute, the Falcons fired off a pair of shots, but neither was able to slip past Schaffner and the teams transitioned into the final 10 minutes of regulation. 

At the 82nd-minute, Muscatello slammed the door on the Falcons, scoring her second goal of the game and giving the Blue Jays the 3-0 lead. Both Riccio and Ashley Shaw (Milford, Conn.) tallied shots in the final moments, but Schaffner held strong in the net to secure the Blue Jays victory. 

BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Michelle Mecca (L, 8-5): 10 Shots on Goal | 3 Goals-Against | 7 Saves
Saint Joseph (CT): Victoria Schaffner (12-3-1)|  4 Shots on Goal | 0 Goals-Against | 4 Saves

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Saint Joseph's held the advantage in shots, outshooting the Falcons by a 22-13 margin.
• The Blue Jays out-cornered Albertus with a 6-3 differential.
• The Falcons tallied seven saves to Saint Joseph's four.
• Albertus was whistled for 18 fouls to the Blue Jays' 13. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Riccio tallied a season-high four shots.
• Mecca finished the game with seven saves in net.
• Mecca made 15 saves over her last two games.
• Four different Falcons tallied a shot on goal in tonight's contest. 
• Riccio, Shaw, and Victoria Jainchill Simsbury, Conn.) recorded multiple shots in the match.
• Amanda McGeehan (Milford, Conn.) also recorded a shot.