PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Junior forward
Shannon Anderson (New Milford, Conn.) scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 18th minute, and the Western Connecticut State University women's soccer squad scored twice in the final six minutes to edge Rhode Island College, 3-1, in a Little East Conference tilt on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
Anderson scored off a feed from sophomore back/midfielder Noelle Haase (Beacon, N.Y.), and WestConn took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Rhode Island College controlled much of the first half with six shots to WestConn's five. Senior goalkeeper Gracen Regan (Monroe, N.J.) made four saves in the half to protect the lead the Wolves' advantage.
The second half stayed tight until the final minutes. Rhode Island College's Sarah Pimentel had two shots haulted by Regan in a flurry at 84:35. Moments later, a foul in the box led to a penalty kick, and Pimentel converted it at 84:40 to tie the match, 1-1.
WestConn answered just 12 seconds later. Sophomore forward/midfielder Delaney Israel (Medford, N.Y.) scored her fifth goal of the season at 84:52, assisted by sophomore forward Madelyn Dwyer (Poughquag, N.Y.) and senior midfielder Jasmine Islami (Bethel, Conn.). Dwyer then put the match away at 88:16 with her second goal of the season, off a pass from freshman forward Leah Tomeo (West Islip, N.Y.).
Dwyer had a game-high four shots, three on goal, and sophomore midfielder Olga Mayen-Perez (Brookfield, Conn.) added three shots. Regan finished with eight saves. Rhode Island College put nine shots on goal to WestConn's five, but both teams took 13 shots overall. The visitors won the corner kick battle 4-0, and neither team was shown a card.
The victory moves WestConn to 5-2-7 overall and 3-1-3 in Little East Conference play. Rhode Island College falls to 8-5-1 and 3-2-1. The Wolves return to action when they host the University of Mount Saint Vincent in a non-conference contest on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
