Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. -- Little East Conference scoring leader Daniela Marchitto (Orange) broke a tie 13 minutes into the second half with her team-leading seventh goal of the year to power the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team to a 3-1 conference victory over Plymouth State University Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
After the teams played without scoring through the first half and early minutes of the second, the squads combined for three goals in less than eight minutes.
Eastern (4-4-0, 2-0-0 Little East) junior Kelly Wallace (South Windsor) and Plymouth (3-4-0, 0-2-0 Little East) senior Sammi Jo Saltalamacchia scored a little more than three minutes apart in the second half before Marchitto knocked in a left-footer from close range to give the Warriors the lead for good, 2-1, 13 minutes into the second half. Marchitto was able to maintain possession in traffic in the box after receiving a short pass from sophomore Tamar Merheb (Bethel), and sent a quick shot at Plymouth senior keeper Angelina LaBroad. LaBroad left her feet to knock the shot down, but the momentum of the shot allowed the ball to roll inside the left post.
The win is the 13th straight for Eastern over Plymouth and extends Eastern's regular-season conference unbeaten streak to 14 (12-0-2). The Warriors ended the 2009 season with a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) and were 6-0-1 a year ago en route to the regular-season LEC title.
Wallace's second goal of the year had given the Warriors the lead less than five minutes into the second half. Junior Chelsea Downer (Colchester) set up the play with a pass from the right side into the box. Marchitto led the cross travel untouched through her legs to the far side to Wallace, who buried a hard shot above the leap of LaBroad. Saltalamacchia converted Plymouth's second shot of the match to tie the game, taking a pass from sophomore Molly Todd and beating Eastern junior keeper Mackenzie MacLeod (Northfield) with a high shot that sailed inches inside the left post.
Eastern added an insurance goal midway through the second half when sophomore Nicole Leonard (Rutherford, NJ) was credited with her fourth goal of the year on a crossing pass from the right wing from sophomore Blair Church (New London). Tamar Merheb won the ball and sent it ahead to Church, who found Leonard unmarked on the left side of the box. Leonard one-timed the perfect pass from the left post.
In the final 20 minutes, Church was denied a goal when she hit the cross bar, and LaBroad robbed Marchitto and freshman Rachael Skinner (Uncasville) with sprawling stops.
LaBroad made eight saves and also got one at the post from senior back Sarah Pandiscio early in the second period. Five of LaBroad's saves came in the first half when the Warriors came up empty despite a 9-1 advantage in shots. MacLeod made two saves to record her fourth victory.
Eastern visits Salem State University Wednesday at 6 p.m.
