BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Olivia Moore (Salem, Conn.) scored a pair of goals and added an assist, including what stood up as the game-winning goal at the 78:55 mark, as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team edged Western Connecticut, 5-4 in non-conference action at Sweeney Field. The win was the first for the Leopards over the Colonials in the 11 all-time meetings between the two schools.
Wentworth wasted little time getting on the board as freshman Kristen Carroll (Tewksbury, Mass.) put home a shot to the right side off a pass from senior Jenelle Wolff (Lynnfield, Mass.). The Leopards increased their lead to 2-0 at the 14:11 mark when freshman Mary Annon (Concord, N.H.) threaded a pass to Moore, who found freshman Amanda Weinberger (Colchester, Conn.) for her third marker of the season.
At the 40:00 mark, the Leopards, who had been outscored by a combined 33-4 margin in the previous 10 series meetings, went ahead 3-0 when sophomore Valeria Zapata (Pawtucket, R.I.) fed freshman Mykaela Scarpace (Marlborough, Conn.), who one-times a shot to the upper left corner. The 3-0 advantage would remain at the break as the Black & Gold held a 7-4 shot advantage.
The Colonials came out firing in the second half, scoring three goals in a span of 4:23. Sophomore Kelsey Chacho (Plainville, Conn.) scored the first of her two goals when she put home a shot at 54:51. Freshman Celia DeVoe served a corner kick from the left side that was initially cleared out by Leopard keeper Nicole Leahey (Warwick, R.I.).However, Chacho gained possession and found an opening in the right side of the net.
A Wentworth defensive miscue would lead to Western's second goal as DeVoe gained possession off a turnover and beat Leahey at 55:50 before senior Erika Moran (Shelton, Conn.) fed Chacho, who buried a high shot from the top of the box at 59:14.
Wentworth re-gained the lead at 62:14 when Weinberger fed Moore, who pushed home a shot to the right at 62:14 and Moore put the Leopards ahead, 5-3 with a breakaway goal at 78:55.
The Colonials pulled back within one when DeVoe served a corner kick that was put home by sophomore Rebecca Rivera (Monroe, Conn.) with 6:45 remaining in the contest. Western applied pressure and would put a shot on net late, however the Leopards maintained possession in the offensive end during the late stage of the game, thwarting a Colonial comeback.
Leahey made two saves for the Leopards, while freshman Alison Rettenmeier (Sherman, Conn.) made five stops. Wentworth held a 15-13 shot advantage, while Western was awarded all five of the game's corner kicks.
With the win, Wentworth improves to 3-5-2 overall and hosts Curry on Saturday. Western Connecticut sees its four-game win streak come to an end and is at Worcester State on Wednesday night.
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Western Connecticut. 0 4 - 4
Wentworth........... 3 2 - 5
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 2:09 WIT Kristen Carroll (2) (Jenelle Wolff)
2. 14:11 WIT Amanda Weinberger (3) (Olivia Moore; Mary Annon)
3. 40:00 WIT Mykaela Scarpace (1) (Valeria Zapata)
4. 54:51 WCSUWS Kelsey Chacho (3)
5. 55:50 WCSUWS Celia DeVoe (1) (unassisted)
6. 59:14 WCSUWS Kelsey Chacho (4) (Erika Moran)
7. 62:14 WIT Olivia Moore (6) (Amanda Weinberger)
8. 78:55 WIT Olivia Moore (7) (unassisted)
9. 83:15 WCSUWS Rebecca Rivera (1) (Celia DeVoe)
Shots: Western Connecticut 13, Wentworth 15
Saves: Western Connecticut 5 (Alison Rettenmeier 5), Wentworth 2 (Nicole Leahey 2)
