DANBURY, CT (Sept. 21)  –  Freshman Joanna Weir (Hebron, CT) scored the only goal of the afternoon as the Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team defeated in-state and Little East Conference rival Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon at the Westside Athletic Complex. 

Western opened the game with a strong scoring chance off a corner kick, but back to back shots by junior Sarah Menta (Newington, CT) and freshman Meaghan Gustafson (Newington, CT) were both saved by Eastern's keeper, Rachel Skelton (East Lyme, CT).  Western held an 8-2 advantage in shots during the first half, but the score remained 0-0 at intermission. 

Western continued to be the aggressor in the second half with Eastern managing its first shot on goal of the game at the 64:49 mark. 

With just under 10 minutes remaining to play, Western broke the scoreless tie with a nicely executed corner kick.  The play began when freshman Celia DeVoe (Farmington, CT) took the corner and delivered a long pass to Weir at the top of the box.  Weir settled the ball quickly, noticed the Eastern keeper was still defending the left side of the cage, and put the ball over a mass of defenders and teammates into the right side of the goal for a 1-0 Western lead. 

Eastern stepped up its intensity at the offensive end as the Warriors tried to score the equalizer, but freshman keeper Alison Rettenmeier (Sherman, CT) made three saves in the closing minutes, including one diving save of a shot taken from five yards away from the goal, to preserve the victory for Western. 

For the game, Western held a 16-9 advantage in shots, and also had a 9-4 edge in corner kicks.  Rettenmeier finished with four saves to earn the win, while Skelton finished with 10 saves in a losing effort for Eastern. 

With the win, Western now stands at 6-2 on the season and 1-0 in the Little East Conference.  Eastern falls to 4-2, 0-1 in the LEC.  The Colonials return to action on Tuesday, September 24, when they host Clark at the WAC. Game time is scheduled for 6:00pm.