DANBURY, CT – Senior Sarah Menta (Newington, CT) had a goal and an assist to lead the Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team to a 5-0 win over Little East Conference rival Rhode Island College Saturday afternoon at the Westside Athletic Complex. 

Menta nearly got Western on the board in the game's first minute, but her shot sailed just over the crossbar and out of play. 

Fifteen minutes later, with Western keeping the ball pinned in the RIC end of the field, Menta received a pass from sophomore Meaghan Gustafson (Newington, CT) and found the net to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead. 

Sophomore Autumn Sorice (Bethel, CT) made the lead 2-0 for Western three minutes later with an unassisted goal. 

With 10 minutes remaining in the half, Menta delivered a pass to junior Emily Newhard (Wallingford, CT), and when Newhard's shot found the back of the net, the Western lead was 3-0. 

At the half, Western held a 24-1 advantage in shots, and a 3-0 lead in goals. 

Junior Rebecca Rivera (Monroe, CT) extended the Western lead to 4-0 at the 55:28 mark of the second half.  Sophomore Celia DeVoe (Farmington, CT) delivered a nicely placed corner kick into the middle of the box in front of the Rhode Island College goal.  Rivera elevated above the RIC defenders and headed the ball over the keeper and into the back corner of the cage. 

With time expiring in the second half, sophomore Stacey Weinberg (Port Washington, NY) scored off a pass from senior Danielle Soucy (Clinton, CT) to make Western's final margin of victory 5-0. 

For the game, Western held a 37-2 advantage in shots, and had an 9-0 edge in corner kicks.  Western's freshman keeper Jillian Fernandez (Columbia, CT) was never tested in the first half, but picks up the win for the Colonials, while sophomore Jenna Santoriello (Nesconset, NY) and freshman Abby Benner (Newington, CT) split time in goal for Western in the second half, with Benner making the Colonials' only save of the afternoon.  Senior Audrey Maia (Norton, MA) surrendered three goals to suffer the loss, before being replaced in the first half by senior Justina Thoma (Canterbury, CT) who finished with nine saves for the Anchorwomen. 

With the win, Western improves to 6-4 on the season, and 2-0 in the Little East Conference.  Rhode Island College falls to 1-7, 0-2 in the LEC.  The Colonials return to action on Monday, September 29, when they host Wentworth at the WAC.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm.