BOSTON, Mass. – Junior forward Kelly Howe (Walton, Neb.) notched a pair of second-half goals in a span of less than two minutes as the Curry College women’s soccer team picked up its first Commonwealth Coast Conference win with a 2-1 win over Wentworth in a game played on Sweeney Field.
The host Leopards controlled play early and put three shots on net in the first 15 minutes, but would come up empty. Wentworth held a 12-7 shot advantage after the first half of play, including 6-1 advantage in shots on goal.
A pair of corner kick attempts by the Leopards in the early stages of the second half yielded no scoring opportunities, and their two shot attempts both sailed to the left of the goal.
However on the Colonels’ first shot attempt of the second half, Howe went on a lengthy run and beat Wentworth junior keeper Jess Gardner (Wilbraham, Mass.) to the left side to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at 57:28. Howe slit the Leopards defense at 59:18 to give Curry a 2-0 lead.
The Leopards battled back and pulled within one at the 63:54 mark when junior defender Danielle Weiler (Beckett, Mass.) fed sophomore midfielder Ashley Cook (San Diego, Calif.). Cook’s shot from the right side sailed just past the reach of sophomore netminder Hayley Lorge (Beverly, Mass.).
Wentworth continued to pressure Curry, in hopes of tying the game and two quality chances. At the other end of the field, Howe had two chances of her own – both stopped by Gardner.
With just under a minute remaining, Weiler headed a cross that went just right of the goal area.
Lorge finished with seven saves in the second half after coming on in relief of junior Samantha Hardy (Pepperell, Mass.), who made six first-half saves. Gardner finished with four saves on the night. Wentworth held a 23-13 shot advantage and an 8-0 corner kick advantage.
With the win the Colonels improve to 3-11 overall and 1-5 in CCC play. Curry hosts the University of New England Saturday. Wentworth falls to 3-12 (0-6) and plays its final home game of the 2011 season on Saturday against Roger Williams. (Game Recap Courtesy of Wentworth Sports Information)
