DANBURY, Conn. - Western Connecticut State University broke a 1-1 tie in the second half to claim its first Little East Conference victory of the season Saturday evening, 2-1, over Plymouth State University at the Westside Athletic Complex.

            The Colonials got on the board first when Melissa Berardi (Brookfield, Conn.) connected on a pass from Kate McCartney (New Fairfield, Conn.). PSU evened the score with five seconds remaining in the half, when junior Sarah Smith (Lexington, Mass.) scored an unassisted goal.

            Both teams turned up the intensity on offense In the second half, but the score remained tied until Meredith Stuart (Washington, Conn.) scored the game-winner for WestConn with her third goal of the season.  Samantha Marolda (Goshen, Conn.) assisted on the goal by perfectly executing an offensive corner.  Plymouth State managed two solid scoring opportunities in the game's closing minutes, but WestConn's goalie Christina Natale (Farmington, Conn.) denied each attempt to secure the win for the Colonials.

            Natale finished with nine saves for WestConn.  Freshman Elyse Sedgley (Hopkinton, N.H.) also made nine saves for the visitors.

            WestConn improves to 2-6 on the season, 1-1 in the conference, while PSU falls to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the LEC. Both teams are back in action on Wednesday with Little East match-ups, as the Colonials host Eastern Connecticut and the Panthers host Framingham State.

            PSU plays its next three games at home after playing five of the first six contests on the road. 

(Courtesy of Western Connecticut Sports Information) 

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