MILTON, Mass.- Western New England University defeated Curry College, 2-1, in women’s soccer action on Saturday in Milton. With the win the Golden Bears improve to 3-10-2 overall and 1-5-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Colonels fell to 3-12 overall and 1-6 in the CCC.
Western New England controlled the entire first half, outshooting Curry 19-4. Out of the Golden Bears 19 shots, just nine landed on net. Junior goalkeeper Samantha Hardy (Pepperell, Mass.) kept Western New England scoreless coming up with some outstanding saves. The Colonels managed just four shots but all four were on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Victoria Trezise (Islip, N.Y.) was solid between the pipes for her team.
The Golden Bears finished the half with five corners and eight fouls. The Colonels finished with two corners and three fouls.
Western New England came out strong in the second half, again controlling play of the game, but it was Curry who would get on the board first. At the 29:57 mark, junior Kelly Howe (Walton, Neb.) took a shot that deflected off of teammate, freshman Marissa Tennant (Thompson, Conn.) for the score. Hardy continued to play strong in net for the Colonels, but just over six minutes after the Curry goal, the Golden Bears answered back with their own to tie the game. The Colonels committed a foul outside the 18-yard box and senior Sara McMurray (Enfield, Conn.) took the free kick and shot the ball right over Hardy’s head. It looked as though the teams would finish tied 1-1 in regulation, but with just 38 seconds left to play, McMurray dribbled the ball past two Curry defenders and beat Hardy one-on-one for the game-winner.
Western New England ended with 31 total shots, 17 on net, nine corners and 12 fouls. Curry ended with 13 shots, 11 on net, three corners and eight fouls.
Trezise made 10 saves in net for her team’s first conference win of the season. Hardy made 15 saves in the loss.
The Colonels will travel to Gordon College in a CCC match-up on Tuesday, October 18 for a 3:00 p.m. contest. Western New England will host Nichols College in a CCC match-up on Tuesday, October 18 for a 3:30 p.m. game start.
