Wesleyan posts fourth shutout in last five games with 1-0 win at WestConn
DANBURY, CT (Sep. 29) — The Western Connecticut State University women’s soccer team kept the visitors from Wesleyan University pinned back on defense for most of the game, but defense has been a strength for the Cardinals lately as they posted the fourth shutout in their last five games to defeat the Colonials 1-0 Tuesday night at the Westside Athletic Complex.
WestConn set the tone early by controlling the ball at the Wesleyan end of the field. Less than five minutes into the first half, junior Lauren Matthews (Monroe, CT) took a shot that was blocked by a Wesleyan defender and rebounded to senior Angela Wozniak (Ludlow, MA) in the center of the box. Wozniak shot quickly to avoid a charging defender, but Wesleyan’s goalkeeper, Clare Colton (Montclair, NJ) was well positioned for the save. WestConn would go on to outshoot Wesleyan by an 8-3 margin in the first half of play.
Five minutes into the second half, Wesleyan capitalized on a WestConn mistake to score the game’s only goal. Dasha Battelle (Brookline, MA) worked the ball down the left side of the field for the Cardinals and lofted a pass just over the WestConn defense. WestConn goalkeeper Molly Miller (Middlebury, CT) charged toward the ball, but Wesleyan’s Katrina Ellis-Ferrara (Concord, MA) won the race to the ball and chipped it over Miller’s head and into the goal. Twice in the second half the Colonials came within inches of getting on the scoreboard, but shots by senior Nicole Sieber (Newtown, CT) and Angela Wozniak hit the crossbar and rebounded out. As the clock wound down, the Colonials continued to apply pressure, but the visitors from Wesleyan escaped with a 1-0 victory.
For the game, WestConn held a 15-7 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Kate Connolly-Smithwick (Center Moriches, NY) replaced Clare Colton in goal for the Cardinals to start the second half, made three saves, and earns her first victory of the season. Molly Smith finished the game with three saves for the Colonials and takes the loss.
WestConn’s season record falls to 4-5, while Wesleyan now stands at 4-2. The Colonials return to action Thursday evening, October 1st, when they host Clark University. Game time is slated for 6:00pm.
Wesleyan (4-2) vs. Western Connecticut (4-5)
Date: Sep 29, 2009 Attendance: 250
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Wesleyan............ 0 1 - 1
Western Connecticut. 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 49:48 WESW09 Kat Ellis-Ferrara (Dasha Battelle) - chipped over drawn out goalie
Shots: Wesleyan 7, Western Connecticut 15
Saves: Wesleyan 4 (Clare Colton 1; K Connolly-Smithwick 3)
Western Connecticut 3 (Molly Miller 3)
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