BOSTON, Mass. – Wentworth Institute of Technology sophomore Ali Leach (Stowe, Vt.) netted the game-winning goal late in the second half to lift the Leopards past Western Connecticut State University, 1-0, on Monday evening in non-conference action at Sweeney Field.
The Leopards capture their second straight victory to improve to 7-2-1 on the season while the Colonials fall to 5-4-1.
Following a scoreless first half, Wentworth commenced the second session with back-to-back shots by juniors Morgan Miler (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Amanda Weinberger (Colchester, Conn.), but neither attempt sailed into the Western Connecticut net. The Colonials registered a pair of shots minutes later, but both attempts by senior Kelsey Chacho (Plainville, Conn.) and sophomore Samantha Carbonell (Berlin, Conn.) were turned aside by Wentworth freshman goalkeeper Michaela Robinson (Goshen, N.Y.).
The stalemate continued for the remainder of the second half before Leach capitalized on a broken play over the middle that put the hosts ahead for good. Leach zigzagged past defenders and Western Connecticut sophomore Jillian Fernandez (Columbia, Conn.) into the box before sending a shot into the lower left corner at 84:28. It was Leach's third goal of the season and second straight game-winning marker.
Western Connecticut had a chance to even the score off of a corner kick by junior Celia DeVoe (Farmington, Conn.) late in the contest, but her attempts was cleared out of the Wentworth box.
The Leopards concluded the match with 17 shots and a pair of corners, while the Colonials registered 12 shots and three corners. Robinson, who picked up her fifth collegiate victory and first collegiate solo shutout in net, turned away five shots, while Fernandez stopped six attempts.
Both teams return to action later this week as Wentworth travels to Salve Regina University on Saturday, October 3 for a 3:00 p.m. kick-off, while Western Connecticut visits Worcester State University on Wednesday, September 30 for a 7:00 p.m. start.
