DANBURY, Conn. – Junior
Nevaeh Petruzzi (Newmarket, N.H.) scored her ninth goal of the year, but third-seeded Western Connecticut State University topped sixth-seeded Plymouth State University, 5-1, in the first round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Women's Soccer Tournament at the Westside Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.
Plymouth State has its season come to an end with a 6-11-1 mark, while WestConn (10-5-5) advances to face second-seeded UMass Boston in a semifinal game on Thursday night.
In a reverse of the regular season meeting, a 2-1 win for the Panthers, WestConn grabbed a 2-0 first half lead. The hosts scored three times in a seven-minute span early in the second half to put the game out of reach.
Petruzzi broke through in the 57th minute and junior
Molly Bellmore (Hebron, Conn.) was robbed of a certain goal with just over 16 minutes to play. The Panthers pressed right to the end, as Petruzzi's bid for a second tally in the final minutes was stuffed by the WestConn goalkeeper, and the Wolves held on for the win.
Plymouth State's six wins matched the most since the 2019 season, while the Panthers were back in the LEC Tournament for the first time following a five-year hiatus.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, WestConn 5
- Plymouth State (6-11-1)
- WestConn (10-5-5)
How it Happened:
- The Wolves got out to a fast start with a goal in the eighth minute.
- WestConn doubled the margin on a header off a corner kick in the 12th minute to make it 2-0.
- Bellmore had a beautiful strike from 30 yards out, but the WestConn goalkeeper made a leaping save to deny the bid to the top left corner and the Wolves would carry the 2-0 lead into halftime.
- The Wolves erupted for three goals early in the second half to extend the margin to 5-0.
- Petruzzi ran down a rebound along the left sideline, then cut around a defender before beating the goalie to the nearside to get the Panthers on the board in the 57th minute.
- Bellmore had an opportunity to cut further into the deficit with a blast from six, but the Wolves' goalie made a spectacular save.
- Petruzzi ran onto a through ball with just over two minutes remaining, but the WestConn goalie charged out to break up the chance and the hosts held on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Petruzzi's goal was her ninth of the year.
- Freshman Christa Giansiracusa (Tewksbury, Mass.) made seven saves.
- PSU earned five corners to the Wolves' four.
- WestConn held a 19-11 edge in shots.
- Plymouth State was back in the LEC Tournament for the first time since 2019.
– 30 –
