PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior midfielder Abby Hummel
(North Kingstown, R.I.) scored the game-winning goal in the 63rd
minute Tuesday afternoon to lift fourth-seeded Rhode Island College
to a 3-2 victory over fifth-seeded Plymouth State University in the
first round of the 2007 Little East Conference Women's Soccer
Tournament at the RIC Soccer Field.
Freshman forward Kristina Haughey (Lincoln, R.I.) paced the
Anchorwomen attack with a pair of goals. Sophomores
Lauren Lavery (Nashua, N.H.) and Stacy
DiSabato (Manchester, N.H./Central) scored goals for the
Panthers in the setback.
RIC (10-8-1) advances to the semifinal round for the second
straight season. The Anchorwomen will travel to top-seeded Western
Connecticut State University (15-2-1) on Thursday for a 6:00 p.m.
start. Plymouth State, which entered the match riding a three-game
winning streak, completes the campaign with an 8-9-0 mark.
RIC was able to capitalize on an errant clear by the PSU defense in
the 63rd minute. Hummel gathered the attempted clear at the top of
the 18-yard box, and tucked a frozen rope under the crossbar and
just inside the right post for the game winner. She registered her
fourth marker of the season-all of which have resulted in the
decisive score.
The Anchorwomen jumped out to an early advantage, scoring two goals
in the opening four minutes. Senior Brittney Godbout (Cranston,
R.I.) generated the first scoring opportunity, lofting a crossing
pass from the left flank and onto the foot of Haughey, who was able
to settle the ball and beat the Panther goaltender. Less than two
minutes later, senior forward Gina Calenda (Warren, R.I.) bent in a
crossing pass from the left flank, and Haughey drove the header
into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.
PSU responded in the latter minutes of the first frame, stringing
together a pair of markers less than six minutes apart. Lavery cut
the deficit to one, drilling home a penalty kick in the 31st minute
for her third goal of the season. The visitors continued to apply
the pressure, and were rewarded for their efforts in the 38th
minute. Freshman Alex Marcell (Pittsford, Vt.)
sent a crossing pass from the RIC goal line, which was redirected
by DiSabato for her sixth goal of the campaign, sending both teams
into the intermission knotted at 2-2.
The RIC offensive attack picked up the pace in the second stanza,
out shooting its guests, 18-5. The Anchorwomen completed the match
with a 10-shot advantage (29-19) and held the edge in corner kicks,
6-5.
Freshman goalkeeper Maddie Pirri (Bristol, R.I.) earned her seventh
victory of the season, reaching double digits in saves with 10. Her
counterpart senior Ashley Riberdy (Manchester,
N.H./Memorial) turned aside seven Anchorwomen offerings.
(Courtesy of RIC Sports Information)
-- 30 --
