Nov. 12, 2005
NORTON, MA- Western Connecticut State University scored a pair of goals early in the second half and held off a late Endicott College surge to take a 2-1 decision in the opening round of the Division III NCAA Tournament Saturday at Wheaton College's Mirrione Stadium.
West Conn will face Wheaton College, which defeated Worcester State earlier in the day, Sunday at 1:00 pm. The Colonials are now 15-2-2 having won 17 of their last 18 contests while the Gulls finish another successful campaign at 15-4-1.
Western Conn was thorougly frustrated by Endicott's defense - led by seniors Katie Cederberg (Grafton, MA/Grafton) and Allison Lyons (Brooklyn, CT/Killingly) - and a pair of would be goals disallowed on offsides calls. But the Colonials harnessed that energy early in the second half, scoring twice in the first 30 minutes.
Freshman Amy Corchard (Monroe, CT/Masuk) found junior Jessica Gomes (Wallingford, CT/Lyman Hall) streaking to the net down the middle of the field, as Gomes received the ball in stride, took a couple dribbles and buried her shot into the left corner of the net.
Western doubled its lead at 70:12, when senior Nicole Corbin (Clinton, CT/The Morgan School) sent a rifling shot from about 20 yards out. With her back to the goal towards the top left of the box, Corbin turned and delivered a perfectly-placed shot into the upper right corner of the net.
Sophomore Paula McGinn (Lynn, MA/Lynn Classical) cut the lead in half on left-footed whisting shot that carried over the Colonial keeper and into the side netting with just under 11 minutes to play. McGinn's shot came from just outside the left corner of the 18-yard line, but that would the only opportunity allowed by the Colonials.
Colonial sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Griffin (Newington, CT/Newington) was credited with six saves, including five stops in the second half, while Endicott junior keeper Tina Loguidice (Hyde Park, NY/F.D. Roosevelt) turned away five shots in the loss. Western outshot the Gulls, 14-10, and held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Western will face Wheaton for the second meeting this year and the first time in the postseason. The Colonials opened their home slate with a 2-0 loss to the Lyons on September 1. Wheaton holds a 6-1 series mark
BOX SCORE
Western Connecticut State 2, Endicott 1
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST HALF: No Scoring.
SECOND HALF: WCSU- Jessica Gomes (Amy Corchard), 55:32; Nicole Corbin (unassisted), 70:12; EC- Paula McGinn (unassisted), 79:04.
Goalie Saves: WCSU- Ashley Griffin, 6; EC- Tina Loguidice, 5.
Shots on Goal: WCSU - 14; EC - 10.
