BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Mykaela Scarpace's (Marlborough, Conn.) goal in the 31st minute proved to be the difference as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team defeated UMass Boston, 2-1, in non-conference action on Tuesday evening at Sweeney Field.
With the win, the Leopards – winners of four straight – improve to 9-2-1 overall, while the Beacons dip to 4-7-1. The win also snapped a four-game series losing streak for Wentworth, who defeated UMass Boston for the first time since October 3, 2006.
UMass Boston opened the match with an early goal, coming at 1:48 into the contest. Freshman Julia Masionis (Milford, Mass.) attempted a shot inside the box that was blocked. She picked up her rebound and fired it towards the net, where it deflected off freshman Micaela Robinson (Goshen, N.Y.) and into the net.
Wentworth responded seven and a half minutes later as sophomore Ali Leach (Stowe, Vt.) located junior Amanda Weinberger (Colchester, Conn.) for the equalizer at 8:15. Weinberger directed Leach's cross from outside the box into the top right corner of the Beacons' net to even the score at 1-1.
The Leopards eagerly attempted to net their second goal with shots by Weinberger, junior Mary Annon (Concord, N.H.) and classmate Mary Pastorelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.), but none of the tries landed in the UMass Boston net. Wentworth would push ahead for good at 30:56 as Pastorelli located Scarpace, who deposited her teammate's corner kick cross into the right side of the net to push the hosts ahead, 2-1.
Wentworth entered the break with a one-goal lead, but neither team would register a single goal during the final 45-minute session. UMass Boston did attempt to even the match late in the session with a pair of shots by senior Natasha Stibor (San Francisco, Calif.) and freshman Jaclyn O'Grady, but neither shot sailed into the Leopards' net.
Leach highlighted the Leopards' offensive output, firing a season-best seven shots. Wentworth concluded the match with 23 shots and a season-high 12 corners. UMass Boston fired six shots – three in each frame – and tallied just one corner kick in the first half. Robinson didn't make a save in the first half while classmate Christie Fleming (Braintree, Mass.) made one stop in the second half. UMass Boston freshman Alyssa Fugiel (Easthampton, Mass.) made nine saves for the Beacons.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, October 10 as Wentworth heads to Nichols College for an 11:00 a.m. start, while UMass Boston travels to Eastern Connecticut State University for a 1:00 p.m. kick-off.
