DANBURY, Conn. - Senior forward
Adriana Alfano (New Milford, Conn.) had two goals and two assists to lead the Western Connecticut State University Wolves to a over the visiting Plymouth State University Panthers in the opening round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Women's Soccer Championship Tournament this evening at Westside Stadium. WestConn improves to 10-5-5 and advances to the LEC Semifinals on Thursday at the University of Massachusett Boston. The Panthers see their season end at 6-11-1.The Wolves avenge a 2-1 loss to Plymouth State in New Hampshire during the regular season.
WestConn was impressive from start to finish, scoring twice in the first 12 minutes and outshooting the Panthers, 11-3, in the first half. The first Wolves goal came from the right side by senior midfielder Olivia Kotfsaftis (Prospect, Conn.) after classmate
Suzana Imetovski (Seymour, Conn.) and Alfano had advanced the ball quickly down and across the field. WestConn junior
Sophia Onek (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) delivered a highlight-reel header for the second goal, one-timing in a corner kick by sophomore
Jasmine Islami (Bethel, Conn.) with her back to the goal 11:46 into the game. Both WestConn sophomore
Gracen Regan (Monroe, N.J.) and Plymouth State goalie Christa Giansiracuda had to leave their feet to make stops later in the first half but the game remained, 2-0, at the break.
Early in the second stanza, WestConn senior back
Kaylee Tackson (Thompson, Conn.) made around midfield on the right side and immediately fed the ball up to Alfano who passed to Imetovski for the third Wolves goal. WestConn scored twice more over the next six minutes, both off the foot of Alfano. Plymouth State scored its goal in the 56th minute when Nevaeh Petruzzi scored unassisted from the right wing, but rookie backstop
Ashlyn Flood (Stamford, Conn.) came in and made four saves over the final 17 minutes of play. Imetovksi finished with a goal and two assists, while Onek had a goal and one assist.Giansiracusa finished with seven saves for the Panthers.
