BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Ali Leach's (Stowe, Vt.) goal in the 57th minute snapped a 1-all tie and lifted the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Emmanuel in a non-conference contest played at Sweeney Field.
The win was the first for first-year head coach Meredith Carey whose Leopards even their record at 1-1 on the season while the Saints fall to 0-3.
Wentworth had the upper hand early, however sophomore Alexis Gawron (South Hadley, Mass.) came up with three big saves, including one on a breakaway by senior Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.) in the 24th minute.
Ninety seconds after the hosts nearly took the lead, Emmanuel struck first as sophomore Natalie Dash (East Hampton, Conn.) fired a shot from just beyond the top right of the box. Junior Micaela Robinson (Goshen, N.Y.) initially made the save, however, the ball went off her fingertips and into the net.
Gawron came up with two more saves before Poratti scored the equalizer at 40:06. Senior Heather MacDougall (Exeter, N.H.) fed a pass from midfield to Poratti, who beat Gawron to the right side.
In the 56th minute, the Saints had a chance to tie the game, however, junior Christie Fleming (Braintree, Mass.) made the save to keep the contest tied. Leach put Wentworth ahead less than a minute later as Richard served a cross from the left side which deflected off of senior Victoria LaRoche's (Hudson, N.H.) hands and came out to leach who deposited the shot.
Emmanuel nearly tied the game in the 80th minute when a bid by Dash was denied by Fleming as she made a diving stop going to her right.
Fleming picked up the win, making four saves in the second half. Robinson made one save in the first 45 minutes. LaRoche made two second-half saves coming in relief of Gawron who stopped five shots in 45 minutes of work. Wentworth had a 13-9 shot advantage and a 3-1 edge on corner kicks.
Wentworth hosts Brandeis, the sixth ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches Pre-Season Poll, on Saturday while Emmanuel hosts MIT on Thursday.
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