BOSTON, Mass. – Rivier College defeated Emmanuel College, 1-0, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's soccer action played on Roberto Clemente Field on Saturday afternoon. The 1-0 shutout represented the first time that the Raiders have topped the Saints in the past ten years. The win improved Rivier's record to 7-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the league, while Emmanuel fell to 5-9 on the season and 3-5 in GNAC play.

Emmanuel had an early scoring opportunity, when Meghan Zerba (Cumberland, R.I.) charged down the field on a breakaway in the 2nd minute. The sophomore's shot sailed high and out of play and the Saints could not convert.

The Raiders took control of the scoreboard early in the game, when freshman forward Kaitlyn Souza (Wilmington, Mass.) put a nice pass out in front and sophomore forward Amy Desimone (Methuen, Mass.) sent it into the back of the net to put Rivier up, 1-0. Desimons's goal at 5:26 would hold up as the game-winner.

Senior forward Amber Di Nucci (Assonet, Mass.) gave the Saints an opportunity to tie things up with a breakaway in the 20th minute, but her shot went wide right. An Emmanuel run by Melanie Hoffman (Topsham, Me.) and Brittany Ridge (Portland, Me.) was thwarted in the final minute of the half and Rivier took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Despite out-shooting the Raiders, 6-2, and controlling much of the offense, Emmanuel trailed by a goal at the break.

The Raiders opened up the second frame with another nice run by Souza, but the rookie could not convert. Di Nucci drilled a shot wide in the 55th minute for the Saints. Sophomore Lauren Foley (North Andover, Mass.) followed with another nice shot, but the hosts couldn't seem to get on the board.

Emmanuel freshman forward Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.) shook a Raider defender and sent a shot high and left, as the trailing Saints continued to out-shoot Rivier. In the 85th minute, Di Nucci gave Sullivan a nice feed in front, but Rivier goalie Christine Surber (Langdon, N.H.) made an incredible diving stop to preserve the shut-out for the Raiders. Surber made 4 saves in goal for Rivier and picked up the, 1-0, shut-out win.

Emmanuel will play on Monday (10/11) in New Haven, Connecticut, where the Saints will take on the Falcons of Albertus Magnus College in a 1pm start. Rivier will host Norwich University on Monday night in a 7:30pm start.