Box Score from the desk of LEC Hall of Famer - Bob Molta - ECSU Sports Information
MANSFIELD, CT - The Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team has a reputation for winning when it matters in the Little East Conference playoffs. Saturday was no exception.
Third-seeded Western (15-5-2) defended its 2015 title by claiming the LEC championship for the ninth time in 11 appearances in the title game, shutting out top-seeded unbeaten regular-season champion Eastern Connecticut State University, 2-0, at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex
Since tying the Warriors Oct. 1 at Thomas Nevers Field, Western is 9-1-0 over the last five weeks, the only setback coming to nationally-ranked Stevens Tech. Western moved into the final the hard way, avenging a 4-1 regular-season loss at Keene State College Sept. 17 to eliminate the second-seeded Owls, 2-1 in overtime, in Thursday's semifinals on Keene's home field.
Western qualifies automatically for the NCAA Division III tournament when the entire field is announced Monday afternoon.
Playing under first-year head coach Alex Harrison – formerly the team's assistant coach over the previous five years – Western got the only goal of the first half and only goal it would need 14 minutes before the break.
The loss was the only one at home this year for Eastern (5-1-2) while Western improved to 7-2-1 on its opponents' field.
Eastern (13-4-2), which had allowed only one goal in winning its previous five matches – including Thursday's 2-1 victory here over fifth-seeded Plymouth State University – controlled the tempo and time of possession until Western sophomore forward Paige Martin (Cromwell) scored on a rebound off a shot by freshman fielder Bailey Julian (Simsbury) which was saved by Eastern sophomore keeper Kayla Labrecque (Westhampton, MA). Martin, who scored the overtime game-winner Thursday at Keene, was stationed at the right post when Labrecque's denial of Julian's shot from the left side caromed to her foot. Martin found plenty of open space, putting the rebound quickly inside the right post.
Western added an empty-net goal with 1:20 left. To help Eastern press forward for the equalizer, Labrecque came 40 yards out of net to gain possession, but Western junior forward Autumn Sorice (Bethel) – the LEC leader in goals – won possession, cut to the left and outraced two Eastern defenders. From a difficult angle to the left of the goal, she was on target to score her 24th goal of the season. The goal was the fourth of the playoffs for Sorice, who netted a hat trick in Tuesday's 6-3 victory over sixth-seeded Rhode Island College.
Eastern junior Emily Becher (Brooklyn) was foiled on two ideal scoring chances in the second half. On the first one eight minutes into the second half, she knocked a shot off the left post with the net open. The ball rebounded toward the right post, but Western freshman back Jasmine Grey cleared it out of danger.
Three minutes before Martin knocked in the first goal, Eastern couldn't convert a chance when junior midfielder McKenzie Reimondo (Portland) – who sat out Thursday's semifinal due to illness – controlled a loose ball at the the top of the box, but sent it over the bar.
With Western protecting its 1-0 lead nine minutes into the second half, senior midfielder Celia DeVoe (Farmington) drilled a 30-yarder just to the right of the post, and three minutes later, Julian controlled a bouncing ball in the box, but her close shot from the left side creased the side of the net.
Western senior back Meaghan Gustafson (Newington) was named tournament MVP in helping sophomore keeper Serena Gunter (Sterling) post her second shutout in five starts since taking over as the team's starting keeper. Gustafson played all 90 minutes Saturday.
Despite being marked closely – primarily by Grey with help from freshman back Courtney Ravo (Bethel) – Becher was credited with four of Eastern's 13 shots, forcing Gunter to make three saves. Eastern sophomore back Lauren Valenti (Walpole, MA) was mostly responsible as the Warriors were able to neutralize the considerable offensive capabilities of Sorice, who had come up empty on her only two shots until converting the late goal into an open net.
With the triumph, Western remains perfect (3-0) when facing Eastern in the title match, having won by 2-1 scores as the No. 1 seed at home in both 2007 and 2008. Eastern is 4-5 in title games, previously appearing most recently in 2013 and last winning in 2011 on penalty kick over top-seeded Keene on the Owls' field.
The Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team has a reputation for winning when it matters in the Little East Conference playoffs. Saturday was no exception.
Third-seeded Western (15-5-2) defended its 2015 title by claiming the LEC championship for the ninth time in 11 appearances in the title game, shutting out top-seeded unbeaten regular-season champion Eastern Connecticut State University, 2-0, at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex
Since tying the Warriors Oct. 1 at Thomas Nevers Field, Western is 9-1-0 over the last five weeks, the only setback coming to nationally-ranked Stevens Tech. Western moved into the final the hard way, avenging a 4-1 regular-season loss at Keene State College Sept. 17 to eliminate the second-seeded Owls, 2-1 in overtime, in Thursday's semifinals on Keene's home field.
Western qualifies automatically for the NCAA Division III tournament when the entire field is announced Monday afternoon.
Playing under first-year head coach Alex Harrison – formerly the team's assistant coach over the previous five years – Western got the only goal of the first half and only goal it would need 14 minutes before the break.
The loss was the only one at home this year for Eastern (5-1-2) while Western improved to 7-2-1 on its opponents' field.
Eastern (13-4-2), which had allowed only one goal in winning its previous five matches – including Thursday's 2-1 victory here over fifth-seeded Plymouth State University – controlled the tempo and time of possession until Western sophomore forward Paige Martin (Cromwell) scored on a rebound off a shot by freshman fielder Bailey Julian (Simsbury) which was saved by Eastern sophomore keeper Kayla Labrecque (Westhampton, MA). Martin, who scored the overtime game-winner Thursday at Keene, was stationed at the right post when Labrecque's denial of Julian's shot from the left side caromed to her foot. Martin found plenty of open space, putting the rebound quickly inside the right post.
Western added an empty-net goal with 1:20 left. To help Eastern press forward for the equalizer, Labrecque came 40 yards out of net to gain possession, but Western junior forward Autumn Sorice (Bethel) – the LEC leader in goals – won possession, cut to the left and outraced two Eastern defenders. From a difficult angle to the left of the goal, she was on target to score her 24thgoal of the season. The goal was the fourth of the playoffs for Sorice, who netted a hat trick in Tuesday's 6-3 victory over sixth-seeded Rhode Island College.
Eastern junior Emily Becher (Brooklyn) was foiled on two ideal scoring chances in the second half. On the first one eight minutes into the second half, she knocked a shot off the left post with the net open. The ball rebounded toward the right post, but Western freshman back Jasmine Grey cleared it out of danger.
Three minutes before Martin knocked in the first goal, Eastern couldn't convert a chance when junior midfielder McKenzie Reimondo (Portland) – who sat out Thursday's semifinal due to illness – controlled a loose ball at the the top of the box, but sent it over the bar.
With Western protecting its 1-0 lead nine minutes into the second half, senior midfielder Celia DeVoe (Farmington) drilled a 30-yarder just to the right of the post, and three minutes later, Julian controlled a bouncing ball in the box, but her close shot from the left side creased the side of the net.
Western senior back Meaghan Gustafson (Newington) was named tournament MVP in helping sophomore keeper Serena Gunter (Sterling) post her second shutout in five starts since taking over as the team's starting keeper. Gustafson played all 90 minutes Saturday.
Despite being marked closely – primarily by Grey with help from freshman back Courtney Ravo (Bethel) – Becher was credited with four of Eastern's 13 shots, forcing Gunter to make three saves. Eastern sophomore back Lauren Valenti (Walpole, MA) was mostly responsible as the Warriors were able to neutralize the considerable offensive capabilities of Sorice, who had come up empty on her only two shots until converting the late goal into an open net.
With the triumph, Western remains perfect (3-0) when facing Eastern in the title match, having won by 2-1 scores as the No. 1 seed at home in both 2007 and 2008. Eastern is 4-5 in title games, previously appearing most recently in 2013 and last winning in 2011 on penalty kick over top-seeded Keene on the Owls' field.
