KEENE, N.H. 10/6/07 - Rhode Island College scored early and held
off a late second half charge by the Owls to post a 1-0 Little East
Conference women's soccer victory over Keene State on Saturday.
It was RIC's (5-5-1, 2-2 LEC) first LEC win over the Owls in 12
games. The Owls (6-6-1, 2-2 LEC) suffered their third straight
shutout and have scored just one goal in their last four
games.
Brittney Godbout (Cranston, R.I.) scored the lone goal of the
game at the 2:10 mark. Taking a through ball from Chelsea
Creamer (Coventry, R.I.), Godbout broke in alone after the KSC
defense anticipated an off-sides call.
The Owls had a chance to tie the scored three minutes later, but
Kendra Spencer's drive to the top corner was knocked away by RIC
goalie Maddie Pirri (Bristol, R.I.)
Michaela Bileau (Woonsocket, R.I.) had an opportunity to extend
the Anchorwomen's lead when her shot clanged off the cross bar
midway in the first half.
KSC pressured the Anchorwomen for the equalizer in the second
half. Michelle Boland (Worcester, Mass.) and Renee Halsey
(Francestown, N.H.) had opportunities to tie the game 10 minutes
into the period. Boland's shot hit off the post and a RIC
defender blocked Halsy's bid. Minutes later, Pirri stopped a
close-range shot by Kathleen Keniston (Minneapolis, Minn.).
KSC's best chance came when Ally Beadle's (East Hartford, Conn.)
shot was tipped by Pirri and rolled toward the goal.
But RIC defender Kerry Donahue (Rehoboth, R.I.) knocked the ball a
way before it could cross the goal line. Later in the half, Katie
Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) went around the corner, but her bid was
denied by Pirri with 16 minutes to play.
The Owls had two more chances to tie the game in the closing
minutes of play, but Pirri was up to the task. She stopped a header
by. Keniston with 2:44 to go and a drive by Nora Mahoney
(Belchertown, Mass.) with 15 seconds to play.
Pirri stopped 12 shots to record her first shutout of the
season. Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.) finished the game
with five saves for the Owls.
Keene State is at Westfield State on Wednesday. RIC is at
Bridgewater State on Monday (3:30 p.m.).
