DANBURY, CT – The Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team scored a goal in the game's first 10 minutes and another in the final 10 minutes to claim a 2-0 victory over the visitors from Worcester State University Wednesday evening at the Westside Athletic Complex. 

Western began the game as the aggressor, keeping the ball pinned in the Worcester State end of the field for the game's first 8 minutes, taking four shots and earning two corner kicks. 

Junior Rebecca Rivera (Monroe, CT) gave Western an early lead when she took a pass from junior Lisa Sanzari (North Haven, CT) and drilled a rising shot past the Worcester State keeper and into the top, back corner of the net for a 1-0 Colonial lead before Worcester State could bring the ball across midfield. 

Worcester State managed to bring the ball into the Western end of the field after Western's goal, but the Colonials continued to control play throughout the first half, concluding the game's first 45 minutes with a 14-6 advantage in shots and a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard. 

At the 55:54 mark of the second half, Worcester State's Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, MA) nearly scored the equalizer when her shot went over the outstretch hands of the Western keeper, but the ball bounced squarely off the front of the crossbar and back into play where it was cleared by the Colonial defense. 

With less than 10 minutes to play, freshman Samantha Carbonell (Berlin, CT) collected the rebound of a shot taken by senior Sarah Menta (Newington, CT) just to the left of the cage, and slipped the ball behind the Worcester State keeper to make the score 2-0. 

Western controlled the ball down the stretch, never allowing Worcester State another shot to claim the 2-0 victory. 

For the game, Western finished with a 19-15 advantage in shots, and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.  

Western's freshman keeper Jillian Fernandez (Columbia, CT) made five saves to pick up the win for the Colonials.  For Worcester State, junior Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) made six saves in a losing effort. 

With the win, Western improves to 8-4 on the season, while Worcester State falls to 7-2.  The Colonials return to action on Saturday, October 4, when they travel to play Little East Conference rival Plymouth State.  Game time is scheduled for 12:00 noon.