Saint Michael's College

WALTHAM, Mass. - In a meeting between two of the top three teams in the NCAA Division II East Region, the Saint Michael's College women's soccer team lost to 16th-ranked Bentley University, 2-1, on Saturday during Northeast 10 Conference play at Bentley Field. The Purple Knights received votes toward this week's United Soccer Coaches national poll and were third in the region, while the Falcons were 16th nationally and second in the East.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (7-2-3, 3-2-1 NE10), Bentley (10-1-2, 3-1-2 NE10)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Junior Scarlett Brookes (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls), 1 goal
• Junior Sarah Gormley (East Moriches, N.Y./Westhampton Beach), 1 assist
• Junior Jules Peterson (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), 1 assist
• Sophomore Chloe Laizer (West Springfield, Mass./West Springfield), 3 saves

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Senior Abi Hennessey, 1 goal
• Sophomore Annie Vigue, 1 goal
• Graduate student Holly DiPalo, 0 saves in 31:20
• Senior Emily Robinson, 2 saves in 58:40 of relief, win

GAME FACTS

• This was the 10th consecutive meeting between the teams determined by a goal or less.
• With three NE10 games remaining, the Purple Knights are third in the league standings. The top seven teams qualify for the NE10 Championship, and the top four host at least one postseason game.
• Bentley eliminated the Purple Knights from the 2024 NE10 Championship before the Purple and Gold returned the favor last season. Both games went as 1-0 finals on the home field of the winning squad.
• Brookes tied Debbie Kirby '89 for fifth in program history in career goals (28).
• Gormley took over sole possession of eighth in school annals in career assists (14).

THE ACTION

• Hennessey put the Falcons ahead in the 12th minute, chipping a shot from the left wing over a leaping Laizer.
• The Purple Knights countered just 1:26 later. After Peterson sent a long ball into space up the left side, Gormley beat her defender to the ball and one-touched across the box for Brookes, who sprinted past the final back and tapped in the equalizer.
• Vigue gave Bentley the lead in the 50th minute, sending a left-footed shot from the right flank off of a diving Laizer.
• Saint Michael's had one final bid in the 87th minute, when Peterson forced Robinson into a save.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Tuesday vs. No. 6 Franklin Pierce University, 6 p.m.
• The Ravens' national ranking is according to the United Soccer Coaches, and they sit first in the East Region poll.
• The Purple Knights play their Breast Cancer Awareness Game that evening.