DANBURY, Conn. (October 24, 2007) – Junior forward Catherine Nathans and junior midfielder Amy Corchard registered one goal apiece in leading the Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday evening at the Westside Athletic Complex in Danbury, Conn. The Colonials, who entered the game listed No. 16 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll and No. 14 in Tuesday's D3Kicks.com ranking, improved to 15-1-1 as they posted their 11th shutout in a row.
Western Connecticut jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 3:24 into the contest as Nathans received a pass just inside the 18-yard mark at the top of the box and ripped a shot past the diving attempt of Stevens freshman goalkeeper Jenn Pontier for her team-leading 13th marker in 2007. That goal was the first surrendered this season by Pontier – ending her streak of 656:09 minutes without giving up a tally to start her career.
The Ducks, who fell to 11-4-1 overall as their six-game win streak came to an end, had two real good chances to get on the board in the first half as junior back Salme Cook and freshman back/forward Katria Misilo both hit the crossbar. The Colonials, who have out-scored their opponents by a 34-0 margin over the last 11 games, put the contest away in the 77th minute as Corchard lined a shot that redirected past Pontier.
Senior goalkeeper Jenna Cappellieri (Stratford, Conn.) earned the victory as she made three saves on the evening. Pontier stopped 10 shots for the Ducks, who were out-shot 21-6 in the match.
Despite Wednesday's loss, Stevens received some good news as the Ducks locked up the No. 2 seed for the Empire 8 Championship thanks to Ithaca College's 1-0 win over Utica College earlier in the day. As a result, Stevens will host a semifinal game next Wednesday. Presently, Nazareth College is in third place with 15 points. The Pioneers are fourth with 13 points. Nazareth and Utica will play each other on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Utica, N.Y. The winner of that contest will be the No. 3 seed and head to Hoboken to tangle with the Ducks in the semifinals next week.
Stevens will close out the regular season this Saturday at home against Hartwick College. That contest will begin at 3 p.m. All the action will be carried live at www.Empire8.tv.
