Emmanuel Defeats Wentworth, 2-1
Late Saints goal does in Leopards
(Courtesy of Emmanuel Sports Information)
BOSTON, Mass. – Junior forward Amber Di Nucci (Assonet, Mass.) netted a goal in the 87th minute to give Emmanuel College a 2-1 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in non-conference women's soccer action on Thursday night. The Colleges of the Fenway (COF) rivalry was played at the newly renovated Roberto Clemente Field. The win for the Saints gave Emmanuel a 6-5 edge in the past 11 meetings between these two programs. With the win, the Saints improved to 2-1 on the season, while the Leopards dropped to 1-3 overall.
Emmanuel out-shot Wentworth, 20-7, including a 14-2 shots on goal differential. The Saints found the scoreboard early, when senior midfielder Kate McKenna (Holyoke, Mass.) drilled one into the back of the net at 11:23. McKenna was assisted by Di Nucci in the early going. The two would reverse the play late in the game.
The Saints dominated play in the opening half, while the Emmanuel taking 10 shots to just 3 by the visitors. Wentworth's defense was able to hold the Saints scoreless for the remainder of the period and Emmanuel to a 1-0 lead into the break.
The two teams went scoreless for the majority of the second half. The Leopards knotted the contest on a goal by rookie forward Stephanie Crockett (Bedford, Mass.) in the 74th minute. Crockett got the helper from sophomore midfielder Jess Cutler (Scituate, Mass.).
The Saints possessed several unsuccessful scoring opportunities prior to Di Nucci's heroics. The junior recorded her second goal of the season at 86:12, with an assist from McKenna. After holding off a late rally from the Leopards, including a shot off the crossbar, Emmanuel was able to squeak by with a 2-1 edge.
Freshman keeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pauling, N.Y.) recorded the win for Emmanuel, stopping one of Wentworth's two shots on goal. Freshman goalie Jess Gardner (Wilbraham, Mass.) made 12 stops in the effort for the Leopards.
Emmanuel will take its show on the road this weekend. The Saints travel to West Hartford, Conn. to play the Blue Jays of Saint Joseph College on Saturday afternoon (9/12). Wentworth is also back in action on Saturday, as the Leopards host Roger Williams University in a 3pm start.