MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Keene State College women's soccer team kicked off Little East Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Eastern Connecticut State University, but after
Elizabeth Tschudin found the back of the net for her second goal of the season to tie the game up for KSC, the Warriors scored with 12 minutes remaining to hand the Owls their first LEC defeat of the season.
Records
- Keene State: 1-3-1 (0-1-0 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut: 4-0-0 (1-0-0 LEC)
How it Happened
The Warriors tested KSC's freshman goalkeeper Michaela DiCiccio early in the contest as they fired off four shots over the first 15 minutes, but of the two shots on target, DiCiccio handled to keep ECSU off the board early. After Tschudin had her first two shots of the game for the Owls, Jordan Fabry and Emily Dunlea nearly put ECSU on the board as Fabry's shot rang off the crossbar and Dunlea's shot was saved by DiCiccio with 15 minutes remaining in the opening half of action. ECSU had yet another chance less than two minutes later as Lauren Weaver's shot hit the left post, but Faith Corona's shot went wide before the Owls had their first shot on target of the day on the other side of the field, but
Hailey Goldman's shot was saved by the Warriors' goalkeeper, Alex Ignatowicz. The rest of the opening half ECSU applied the pressure on the Owls' defense as they took three corner kicks, and after DiCiccio saved the first of two shots on goal from Michaela Gasparri in the closing minutes, Fabry assisted Gasparri on the Warriors' first goal of the game to take a 1-0 lead into the half.
KSC applied the pressure early in the second half with a pair of corner kicks, but the Owls were able to capitalize on their second shot on goal of the contest as
Kaylee Cormier sent a throw in to Tschudin outside the Warriors' box where she snuck it in the nearside of the post and into the back of the net to tie the contest up at one apiece with 32 minutes remaining to play. In the six minutes following the Owls' goal, ECSU tried to retake the lead, but they were unable to as their three shots off three corner kicks all missed the target. On the other side of the field over the next three minutes, KSC tried to swing the momentum, but Ignatowicz made a pair of saves on both of Tschudin's next two shots on goal to limit the contest to staying tied with 24 minutes left to play. Over the next 11 minutes DiCiccio made a pair of saves, while Ignatowicz made another save for the Warriors, but with 12:33 left to play, the Warriors struck again as Gasparri assisted Corona on her second goal of the season as ECSU retook the lead. 13 seconds following the Warriors' goal, Tschudin tried to even the contest up yet again, but Ignatowicz made another save and Tschudin's shot was the last for either team the rest of the way as ECSU held on for the 2-1 victory to move to 4-0.
Inside the Box
- KSC falls to 17-20-5 in the all-time series between the two teams, going 1-4-3 over the eight most recent matchups.
- DiCiccio made a season-high six saves in net for KSC in her first full complete 90 minutes in goal, while Ignatowicz made five saves for the Warriors.
- Tschudin led the way with game-highs of each seven shots and four shots on goal.
- The Warriors had the edge on shots, 19-12, along with shots on goal, 8-6, and on corner kicks, 11-3.
Up Next
Keene State returns home for their next contest as the Owls host Worcester State University on Wednesday, September 16, at 7:00 PM.
Eastern Connecticut also plays their next contest on Wednesday, September 16, at 7:00 PM as the Warriors travel to take on Westfield State University.
