Aug. 30, 2009

Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif. - Junior Gabrielle Parisella scored twice in the first half and junior Julie Gallaudet tied the school record with three assists as LMU kicked off its home schedule with a 3-0 win over Northern Arizona Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field. The Lions (2-1-0) bounced back from a midweek defeat at Cal State Northridge to hand the Lumberjacks (1-2-1) their first loss in three games.

After a lackluster performance at Cal State Northridge on Thursday, LMU looked more at ease back home for the first time this season. The Lions pushed the tempo from the opening whistle, with Gallaudet sending the first shot on goal within the opening minute. The game's best chance in the opening 25 minutes fell to LMU when it sent a flurry of shots at NAU's goal in the space of 13 seconds. Off a corner kick, freshman Cori McGovern had her shot saved by NAU goalie Tori Rocke, with the rebound falling to junior Lily Sorentino, whose point-blank shot was also stopped by Rocke. The ball squirted out of the penalty area to sophomore Brittney Sanford, whose long-range effort was deflected just wide of the right post.

It was the introduction of Parisella in the 33rd minute that turned the tide in the Lions' favor. Barely a minute after entering the game, Parisella found herself unmarked in the area to redirect Gallaudet's cross for a 1-0 LMU lead. Gallaudet had done all of the hard work, collecting the ball 30 yards out and to the right of center. Dribbling her way through the Lumberjack defense across the edge of the 18-yard box, she turned the corner on the left side and sent a low cross into the box, where it was met by a wide-open Parisella.

A mere three minutes later, the Gallaudet-to-Parisella connection doubled LMU's lead. This time, Gallaudet served a high cross from the right side. Parisella, Rocke, and an NAU defender all converged on the ball but it fell to Parisella near the left post and she slotted home into the far corner. After scoring three goals as a freshman, Parisella had failed to find the net in 19 games as a sophomore so two goals in the span of three minutes was a welcome sight as she got her name on the scoresheet for the first time since October 7, 2007.

Thanks to Parisella's pair, LMU held a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead. It had been a dominant half for the Lions, who out-shot the Lumberjacks 11-4 and forced seven corner kicks to NAU's one.

Gallaudet would provide the service for LMU's third goal just before the hour. The junior sent a penetrating through-ball to a streaking Erin Rementer on the left side. Rementer cut inside and outraced the defense before sliding her finish past an on-rushing Rocke to the far post. The goal was Rementer's first of the season and third of the sophomore's career.

For Gallaudet, the three assists were a career-high and put her alongside Cindy Carullo and Jessica Lyon for the school's single-game record. Carullo accomplished the feat on October 23, 1993 at Cal State Fullerton, with Lyon equaling the tally against Gonzaga on November 7, 1997. Gallaudet now has eight assists for her career, leaving her one shy of entering the LMU top-10.

Trailing 3-0, NAU did its best to pull a goal back but LMU's defense and senior goalkeeper Allyssa Clark held strong. Clark produced three straight saves with 20 minutes left, first denying Laura Johnson and then stopping Brandy Carr twice, the latter of which was an excellent diving effort low to her right. Clark finished with seven saves to record her second clean sheet of the season and 10th of her career.

LMU nearly scored a fourth 15 minutes from time when junior Kelley Lawson found herself on a breakaway but her one-on-one shot was batted away by Rocke.

LMU finished the game with 18 shot attempts, including eight on goal. It was the third straight game of double-digit shots for the Lions, who did not accomplish the feat at all last year but have now put up five consecutive contests with 10-or-more shots, dating back to last season. In three games this year, the Lions have out-shot opponents 47-30. NAU took 10 shots, seven on goal. Rocke stopped five shots on the day.

LMU's three-game home stand continues with a pair of games this weekend. On Friday, the Lions host Vermont at 4 p.m. for the East/West Cup presented by Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Westside. They then welcome Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m.