Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. -- Brianna Curcio's (Southbury) first goal of the season midway through the first half was enough for the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team to remain undefeated at home this year with a 1-0 Little East Conference victory over the University of Southern Maine Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
At right: Brianna Curcio fends off USM's Becca Tanous
Making only her fourth straight of the season, Eastern's (7-5-0, 2-2-0 LEC) Curcio one-timed Nicole Leonard's (Rutherford, NJ) corner kick (Eastern's first of the match) past Southern Mine (4-8-1, 1-3-0 LEC) at the near post to break a scoreless tie. Freshman keeper Chelsea Santos (Windsor Locks), last week's conference Goalkeeper-of-the-Week made two saves but none of them were difficult in recording her third shutout in five career starts.
With its fifth victory at home in as many contests this year, Eastern moves from a tie for fifth in the conference standings into a tie for fourth. With three regular-season conference games left, Keene State College is unbeaten (4-0-0), with Western Connecticut and UMass Boston a game back at 3-1-0. Keene edged homestanding UMass Dartmouth Saturday, 1-0, and defending playoff champion UMass Boston pounded visiting Western, 4-0, in a re-match of last year's LEC title match.
Curcio's third career goal was one of only a few real threats by either squad. Leonard, who took over the team lead with her third assist, had space in the box four minutes into the second half but couldn't give the Warriors an insurance goal as she one-timed Tamar Merheb's (Bethel) cross from the right wide of the post.
Freshman Hailey Lehning (Woodbury), who played only the first 16 minutes of the first half, returned in the second half and threatened 15 minutes later. Lehning received a pass from Kaitlyn Kennedy (Burlington) on the end line and carried to goal, where she left-footed an uncosted shot from close range over the far post with 11 minutes left.
Southern Maine's best chance to tie the match came in the final minutes, when Nicole Bordeau carried a pass from CC Pelletier on the right flank down to the end line, but her try at a bad angle sailed over the crossbar.
Southern Maine was held without a corner kick by Eastern and managed only five shots. Keeper Katie Cobb was not called upon for a save.
The win is the 14th straight for Eastern over Southern Maine in this series. The Warriors have won three of their last four this season while the Huskies are 1-7-1 in their last nine after opening with three consecutive victories.
Eastern hosts Trinity College Wednesday at 7 p.m.
