Oct. 1, 2016 Box Score | Photo Gallery 
EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette women's soccer team used three goals from three different players to secure its first Patriot League win of the 2016 season on Saturday afternoon on Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium, victorious by a 3-0 margin over American.
"We've talked many times about how hard it is to play well when you know you have to. We had to play well and win today and I thought it was our best performance of the season," head coach Mick Statham said. "Full credit to the players for coming out and performing when they needed to and getting a valuable three points."
Seniors Melissa Lynskey and Joanna Scotti, along with sophomore Alex Stanford, were the goal-scorers for the Maroon and White, who improved their record to 4-4-3 on the season and 1-2-1 in league action. The defense was the real story, though, as the Leopards allowed just one shot on goal from the visiting Eagles all afternoon.
"I thought we defended really well as a team today," Statham added. "I think the back five including the goalkeepers have been playing well, but I thought 11 players defended well today. Our traps, pressing, spacing and overall team defending was solid."
Senior Danielle Sedillo and junior Kelly O'Brien combined for the clean sheet on the afternoon, with O'Brien making the lone save for Lafayette. Shots finished at 17-3 in favor of the home side, while Lafayette earned six corners compared to four for American.
Lafayette jumped on the game right from the get-go as Scotti's marker came just two minutes into the game. Sophomore Gabrielle Martone played a long ball over the top of the back line of the American defense onto a running Scotti, who worked herself into a 2v1 with Lynskey. Scotti chose the shot option, ripping a beautiful ball from the left side of the box into the far-side netting on the right side for the opening tally.
A ball saved over the bar and a missile from Kaelin King off the crossbar represented the scoring chances for Lafayette midway through the half before Lynskey lit the board again in the 36th minute. Senior Monica Weiss played another long ball toward the middle that fooled American goalie Morgan Lang, who fell, opening up a lane for Lynskey to slot home her shot low and left for the 2-0 lead.
That lead held through the halftime intermission and Lafayette looked to put a third on the board right out of the break as a 35-yard free kick from sophomore Lauren Johnson rang off the crossbar just three minutes into the second stanza.
The third goal did finally come midway through the second stanza off a corner. The service fell into the box and was deflected by a number of players for either side before finding the feet of Stanford in front with the goalie down. Stanford calmly slotted the ball in the back of the net for the final score, sealing the game at 3-0.
Lafayette is back in action on Saturday, traveling to Boston, Mass. for a matchup with Boston U. at 1 p.m.
