Mansfield, CT --- The Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team earned the programs first NCAA Division III Tournament victory this afternoon, defeating Worcester State University, 1-0. Sophomore Daniela Marchitto (Orange, CT) netted the decisive marker in the 66th minute to lift the Warriors into the second round.
Eastern Connecticut (16-0-4) raises its unbeaten streak to 20 matches, while the Lancers complete their 2010 campaign at 10-6-4. The Warriors will await the winner of the Wheaton College and Mitchell College match tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM.
The Warriors cracked the scoring column midway through the second period when Marchitto scoring her 10th goal of the season. Senior Lauren Hickey (Southwich, MA) created the scoring opportunity on the right-side flank. She displayed some crafty footwork to elude a Lancer defender to open space in the middle of the field. Hickey gave a quick touch pass to Marchitto, who tucked the game-winner inside the bottom left post.
Eastern Connecticut nearly gained the early advantage in the sixth minute of play, when sophomore Taylor Bucannan (Ellington, CT) lanced a shot into the midsection of the WSU keeper, wide left. The pitch continued to be tilted in the favor of the visitors with the Lancers holding a 4-2 advantage in shots over the next 20 minutes of play.
The Lancers came storming out of the gates in the second stanza. Worester State nearly took the lead in the 47th minute, when junior Nikki Scott (Berlin, MA) headed a rebound from the Warriors' keeper, wide to the left. The pitch continued to be tilted in the favor of the visitors with the Lancers holding a 4-2 edge in shots over the next 20 minutes of game play.
Worcester State junior Danielle Clifford (Attleboro, MA) had a chance to break a scoreless match in the 61st minute, but Eastern Connecticut junior keeper Theresa Pagnozzi (Waterford, CT) made the save off a corner kick.
Pagnozzi stopped all six shots on goal to collect her sixth shutout of the season, while her counterpart, sophomore Angieszaka Sychtysz (Warren, MA), was credited with eight saves.
The afternoons match between Eastern Connecticut and Worcester State is the first since 1997, when the Warriors defeated the Blue and Gold, 3-2, in overtime.
Senior Sarah Connors (Gardner, MA) finishes her career 12th on the all time scoring list with 49 points. Connors netted 12 goals which is tied for seventh best all-time as she also dished out seven career helpers.
Release Courtesy of Little East Conference Sports Information
