BOSTON – The Suffolk women's soccer team clinched the eighth seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament, the conference office announced Wednesday evening.
Finishing the GNAC regular season with a 4-7 league ledger, the Rams will travel to top seed and regular season champion Lasell (10-5, 10-1 GNAC). The Saturday showdown marks a pivotal rematch as Suffolk handed the conference powerhouse its first league setback in five seasons with a 2-0 win, the Rams' first-ever over the Lasers, Sept. 27.
Suffolk will make its seventh trip to the conference tournament in the program's 11-year history and second in as many seasons thanks to its 4-7 mark versus conference competition. The Rams capped off the regular season in non-conference action Monday night with an offensive onslaught of Mass. Maritime where senior co-captain Alexandra Nagri recorded her 100th point.
Since falling to the Rams on Sept. 27, Lasell has put on cruise control, winning six of its seven contests, including five shutouts to lock up the regular season crown for the eighth consecutive season. The Lasers vie for its eight straight postseason title and will prep for Saturday's quarterfinal battle with out-of-league foe Framingham State Thursday, Oct. 26.
Suffolk's seventh postseason trip marks the third time the Rams enter the field as the eighth seed, in each such instance the Rams faced Lasell with the Lasers owning each of the victories. Overall, Suffolk and Lasell have met five times in the post season, three times in the quarters and twice in the championship. The Lasers have taken down the Rams in every postseason contest. In the quarterfinals, the blue-and-gold sits 3-3.
2017 GNAC WOMEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Oct. 28
Game 1: #8 Suffolk at #1 Lasell – 1 PM
Game 2: #5 Saint Joseph (Conn.) at #4 Saint Joseph's (Maine) – TBA
Game 3: #6 Simmons at #3 Emmanuel - 1 PM
Game 4: #7 Albertus Magnus at #2 Johnson & Wales - 7 PM
Semifinals – Tuesday, Oct. 31
Game 5: Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 1
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 3
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 4
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5 at Highest Remaining Seed