Box Score BABSON PARK, Mass. 9/11/11 – The Keene State College women's soccer team weren't lacking for shots in its non-conference game against Babson College on Sunday, finishing with a wide 23-9 advantage. Unfortunately, none of them found the back of the net in the Owls' 1-0 shutout loss to the Beavers in day two of the Wellesley College Soccer Classic at Babson's Hartwell-Rogers Field.
"It's tough when you outshoot a team 23-9 and don't get a goal," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons. "The effort was there, they worked hard, but we didn't finish. And if you don't finish, you're not going to win games. I'm pleased with the effort, but not pleased with the results."
The game's lone goal came just 3:32 into the contest. The play started when Babson sophomore Mika Cucullo (South Salem, N.Y.) carried the ball deep into the right corner. She then evaded a pair of defenders before sending it back to junior Nichole Vargas (Warren, R.I.), who lofted a perfect shot over Keene State senior keeper Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) and into the upper left corner for her first goal of the 2011 season. It was Vargas' second career goal at the collegiate level, and the first since her freshman campaign.
From there, the contest belonged to Babson senior goalie Lisa Wojnar, who stood tall against a valiant Keene State comeback attempt that included 23 total shots. The senior keeper's best stop of the day came in the 38th minute, when she made a tremendous diving save to her right on a rocket off the foot of Owls' sophomore Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.). The Beavers then caught a key break moments later, when Keene State senior Melissa Dempsey's (East Weymouth, Mass.) header off a restart glanced off the crossbar and senior Sia Karamourtopolous' (Fremont, N.H.) follow-up shot went just wide of the net. Wojnar made six saves to record her fourth shutout of the season.
"We were in their side of the field the whole time and just couldn't capitalize, "said junior Brittany Croteau. "Most of the players gave everything they had, but if one person doesn't play hard or if someone makes the wrong play it could cost a game."
Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) was also outstanding in goal for Keene State. The senior keeper finished with four saves, including two charging stops on clean breakaways – one by Cucullo in the first half and the other by Babson junior Amy Festa (Medfield, Mass.) in the second period.
Keene State (2-2) is at Tufts on Wednesday (4:30 p.m.)
