Elms women win key NECC encounter

Blazers, Lesley University were both 7-0 entering Saturday's showdown

October 26, 2008

Elms College junior forward and Westfield (Mass.) native Serina Percoski netted her seventh goal of the season and freshman keeper Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.) stopped four shots to lead the Blazers to a thrilling 1-0 win over Lesley University in Saturday’s New England Collegiate Conference women’s soccer showdown.

With the victory, Elms College (9-7 overall, 8-0 NECC) claimed the NECC’s first-ever regular season title. In eight conference victories this season, the Blazers outscored its opponents 43-0.

Elms College earned a first-round bye in the upcoming six-team NECC Tournament and will now await an opponent to be determined in Saturday’s semifinals.

Lesley (15-3-1, 7-1 NECC), which recently set a school-record for wins in a season, also earned a first round bye and awaits its semifinal opponent.

Percoski scored the game’s only goal just 7:53 in . On the play, junior forward Krystyna Gagne (Methuen, Mass.) broke past a defender and delivered a pass to Percoski, who hammered a shot over Lesley junior goalkeeper Hailee Lowe (Hamilton, Mass.).

Lowe finished with nine saves for the Lynx in the loss.