STANDISH, Maine – Guided by veteran Head Coach Jenelle Harris, now entering her 13th season at the helm, the Saint Joseph's College women's soccer team a 5-12-1 overall record and a 5-9-1 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play last fall.
REGULAR SEASON:
After a challenging start, the Monks gained momentum late in the season, winning four of their final six contests to finish on a strong note. Several of their setbacks were closely contested, as six were decided by two goals or fewer - including three matches in which Saint Joseph's out shot its opponent by a significant margin.
The breakthrough came on September 21st, when senior Alicen Burnham (Monmouth, Maine) and Bridget Davis (Scarborough, Maine) provided the offense in a 2-1 GNAC victory over Mitchell College in Standish.
Momentum began to shift in October, as the Monks earned a hard-fought 1-0 road win over Elms College on October 12th, highlighted by a 78th-minute game-winner from Sydney Gallop (Hermon, Maine) and freshman goalkeeper Ashlyn Guerette's (Merrimack, N.H.) first collegiate clean sheet.
That victory sparked a three-game winning streak, with the Royal Blue defeating New England College and Dean College in back-to-back matches. Against the Pilgrims on October 16th, St. Joe's rallied from a 1-0 deficit as Gallop and freshman Emilienne Biddings-Augustine (New Gloucester, Maine) tallied goals to secure a 2-1 triumph. Burnham then delivered another clutch moment with the decisive goal in the 80th minute versus Dean, sealing a 1-0 victory.
POSTSEASON:
The late-season surge nearly pushed the Monks into playoff contention, but the Royal Blue ultimately finished 11th in the conference standings—just one spot shy of the top 10 that advanced to the postseason—marking the first time under Coach Harris's leadership that Saint Joseph's missed the GNAC Tournament.
NOTEWORTHY INDIVIDUALS:
- Burnham, who missed her entire junior season with an injury, capped her SJC career with 13 goals – including six game-winners - and seven assists for a total of 33 points in 52 games.
- Gallop led the team in goals (6), assists (3), and points after missing her sophomore campaign with an injury.
- Guerette made an immediate impact in her debut season, starting all 18 games and logging 1,618 minutes. She recorded 102 saves with a .671 save percentage and posted a 2.78 goals-against average with a pair of shutouts to anchor the Monks' defense.
