Merheb scores only goal on Warriors' 20th shot for non-conference win
Jo-Ann Merheb (below)
MANSFIELD, Conn. - Sophomore midfielder Jo-Ann Merheb (Bethel) scored her first goal of the season with 21 minutes left, Eastern Connecticut State University finally capitalizing on its 20th shot of the game in a 1-0 non-conference women's soccer win over Fitchburg State College Wednesday night at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
Eastern (2-2-1) was finally able to break though following a flurry of activity in the Fitchburg State (2-3-0) 18-yard box in the latter stages of the second half. On consecutive Eastern corner kicks, Fitchburg senior keeper Emily Swan made saves on shots by Eastern freshman Taylor Buchanan (Enfield) and Merheb, before Merheb finally collected a loose ball off her own miss near the right post with 11 minutes left and placed it perfectly inside the far left post, just beyond Swan's all-out extension to her right.
Eastern dominated play with 23 shots and 14 corner kicks, but Swan made 12 saves to keep the match close. The Falcons' only shot came on a free kick with 11 minutes left by senior back Elise Gallagher, with Eastern sophomore keeper Theresa Pagnozzi (Waterford) making the easy save at the right post. Pagnozzi was credited with her first collegiate win in her third appearance. She started the second half of a scoreless match after the Warriors were unable to pierce the Fitchburg net despite taking 13 shots.
Eastern's best chance of the first half came with nine minutes left, but Swan saved a shot near the end line by senior midfielder Sarah Swann (Oxford). With 16 minutes gone in the second half, Buchanan was stuffed by a charging Swan at the right post to keep the match scoreless, and the keeper performed a similar move to take away an opportunity by freshman forward Christine DeFilippo (Ronkonkoma, NY) with seven minutes left, after Eastern senior back Christine Lemieux (South Windsor) created the chance with a perfect through-ball from the left flank.
Eastern played the match - the first meeting ever between the programs -- without three starters, among them injured sophomore defender Laura Violette (Wallingford) and injured sophomore forward Lauren Greeney (Bethel). Unavailable for duty for Fitchburg, an ECAC tournament qualifier last year, were starting sophomores Carissa Kennedy and Julie Dowson.
Eastern visits defending Little East Conference champion Western Connecticut State University Saturday at 6 p.m. Western has beaten Eastern in the final of the LEC playoffs each of the last two years.
Eastern Conn. 1, Fitchburg State College 0
Fitchburg State (2-3-0) 0 0 -- 0
Eastern Conn. (2-2-1) 0 1 -- 1
Scoring: E-Jo-Ann Merheb 69:06.
Shots: F-1, E-23; Saves: F-Emily Swan 12; E-Kim Church 0 (45:00 min.), Theresa Pagnozzi 1 (45:00). Corner kicks: F-0, E-14.
