Women's Soccer Advances Past Daniel Webster in NECC Championship
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NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College women's soccer team
advanced past sixth-seeded Daniel Webster College by a 5-3 final on
Tuesday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the 2009 NECC
Championship.
The third-seeded Mariners (7-10-0 overall) got two goals apiece
from sophomore Leslie Briggs and junior Paige Ehnot. Sophomore
Nikki Hoxie added four assists for Mitchell, which advanced to the
semifinals at Elms College on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Junior Kim Lemire notched a goal and an assist to lead Daniel
Webster (5-11-0 overall). Senior Erin Hurd and freshman Hilary
Girard also found the back of the net for the Eagles.
Ehnot put the Mariners on the board in the 25th minute on a header
to the far post off a feed from Hoxie on the right side. Briggs
then connected on her first goal in the 36th minute, sliding in
front of the goal to finish off another pass from Hoxie. Just over
a minute later, Briggs struck again on a nearly identical play to
put the Mariners up 3-0.
Mitchell took the lead into the halftime intermission and increased
the margin in the 59th minute on a goal from sophomore Angie Smith,
who scored off a rebound on a shot by Hoxie. Daniel Webster
goalkeeper Amy Waller made the save on the initial shot by Hoxie
but couldn't hold onto the ball. Smith's goal, her second of the
season, would end up being the game winner.
The Eagles cut the deficit back to three on Hurd's goal in the 61st
minute. She scored off her own rebound and into an empty net, her
second tally of the season. The Mariners, however, answered right
back, as Ehnot notched her second of the game in the 74th minute
off a cross from sophomore Shannen Pelletier.
Despite trailing 5-1, Daniel Webster never stopped fighting and
scored twice in the final 10 minutes. Lemire intercepted a low goal
kick and scored on a chip over Mitchell goalkeeper Rachel
Cunningham in the 84th minute. Girard then followed with a goal in
the 86th minute off a pass from Lemire, cutting the margin to
5-3.
With four minutes to play in the game, Girard had a chance to pull
the Eagles even closer. She took a pass up the left side and, with
a defender on her trail, had a one-on-one look against Cunningham
from 15 yards out. Girard's left-footed attempt, however, went off
the side of her foot and wide of the goal.
Mitchell outshot Daniel Webster 18-11 in the contest. Cunningham
finished the day with four saves while Waller made eight.
Mitchell and Elms will meet for the second time this season. The
Blazers took the first meeting by a 3-0 final on October 28. At
stake in Thursday's game will be a berth in the NECC Championship
finals, which will be held on Saturday, November 7 at the site of
the highest remaining seed.