Freshmen combine for three goals and two assists in 4-0 victory
Chris D'Ambrosio, Coach
MANSFIELD, Conn. - In 110 minutes of soccer a little more than a month ago, women's soccer could not solve the defense of the University of Massachusetts Boston when the teams played to a scoreless overtime draw.
At right: Daniela Marchitto
For the Warriors Thursday, there was no mystery as they scored twice in the first 16 minutes and eased to a 4-0 victory in the semifinal round of the Little East Conference tournament at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex. For Eastern, it was its largest margin of victory, largest winning margin by shutout and most goals scored in conference playoff competition.
Three Eastern freshmen combined for three goals and two assists in sparking the second-seeded Warriors over the third-seeded Beacons - a victory that lifts the Warriors into the conference championship game for the sixth time in seven years.
A winner of five straight against New England opponents, Eastern (11-5-3) will meet No. 1 seed Keene State College (14-5-2) at Keene, NH Saturday at 1 p.m. (note time change).The Owls eliminated three-time defending conference playoff champion and fourth-seeded Western Connecticut State University, 2-0, Thursday night.
The top-rated team in the conference in both offense and defense, UMass Boston (14-5-1) gave up two goals in the first 16 minutes against Eastern after giving up a total of only two goals in its last six matches.
Below: Kelly Wallace
Although the teams played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer a month ago at Mansfield, the Warriors struck quickly this time by getting goals from freshman Daniela Marchitto (Orange) in the tenth minute and Jo-Ann Merheb (Bethel) less than seven minutes later. Freshman Kelly Wallace (South Windsor) added the first two-goal game of her brief career later in the half, scoring on similar shots on the right side less than three minutes apart as Eastern sewed up the victory before the half.
Wallace, who broke the freshman season record for assists last Saturday, also contributed her sixth assist in the last four games when she set up Merheb's fourth goal of the season in the 16th minute of play.
Eastern's defense, rated second in the conference, limited the Beacons to only five shots, only two of which forced Eastern senior keeper Kim Church (Farmington) to make saves. UMass was held without a shot until just three minutes remained in the first half and Church was not called upon for her first save until seven minutes had elapsed in the second half. UMass sophomore Kristin Mulry and junior Tina Gillin were held in check by the Eastern defense. The conference scoring leader, Mulry did not have a shot, and Gillin was limited to two. Mulry did not return to the game after departing 13 minutes into the second half.
For the fourth time this year, Eastern did not allow its opponent to earn a corner kick.
In all, four Eastern freshmen combined for three goals and two assists. In addition to the contributions of Wallace and Marchitto, freshman Rachel Cutler (Guilford) was credited with her first career point when she set up Wallace's first goal.
Senior defender Christine Lemieux (South Windsor) doubled her season assist total by collecting two, and sophomore forward Lauren Greeney (Bethel) came off the bench to register her first point of the season with an assist on Wallaces' second goal. Greeney was appearing in only her sixth match of the year due to injury.
The conference championship game appearance will be the third straight and sixth in the last seven years under tenth-year head coach Chris D'Ambrosio. A winner of two conference championships in 2003 and 2005, Eastern has dropped 2-1 decision to Western Connecticut each of the last two years.
Keene edged Eastern, 2-1 in overtime when the teams met Sept. 26 at Keene, NH. Eastern and Keene State are meeting for the fourth time in the playoff title match, with the Warriors having won twice. The Owls are making their ninth appearance in the championship game in 11 years. The 2002 and 2004 conference champion, Keene qualified for the finals in each of the first eight years of the event before missing out the previous two season.
Eastern and Keene have met three times in the final, each year between 2003 and 2005. Eastern won on penalty kicks in 2003 at Keene, NH and 2-0 at Thomas Nevers Field in 2005. The Owls won, 3-0, at Keene in 2004. The Warriors are one of only two teams to ever win the championship as the No. 2 seed, that coming over top-seeded Keene in 2003.
Eastern Conn. 4, Massachusetts Boston 0
UMass Boston (14-5-1) 0 0 -- 0
Eastern Conn. (11-5-3) 4 0 -- 4
Scoring: Daniela Marchitto 9:14; Jo-Ann Merheb (Kelly Wallace) 15:51; Wallace (Christine Lemieux, Rachel Cutler) 38:14; Wallace (Lemieux, Lauren Greeney) 41:08.
Shots: MB-5, E-15; Saves: MB-Jessica Penta 5, E-Kim Church 2 (80:30 min.), Theresa Pagnozzi 0 (9:30).
Corner kicks: E-3, MB-0.
