Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. – Junior midfielder Taylor Shannon (Waterford) scored in the 16th minute as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team won both of its matches in its own Warrior Classic for the second time in three seasons, rolling to a 4-0 victory over Fitchburg State University Saturday night at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
Coming off a first-round 2-0 win over the University of Saint Joseph (CT) Friday, Eastern (2-0) scored twice in the first half and twice in the second against Fitchburg (0-2), which had dropped a 1-0 decision to Manhattanville College Friday night.
The Falcons made a bid to score first but Kelsey Murphy's shot caromed off the left post, and the Falcons managed only one more shot the rest of the half. After senior back Megan Godwin's (Manchester) unassisted goal with eight minutes left in the first half gave the Warriors a 2-0 halftime lead, junior forward Whitney Mantel (Stamford) scored twice in a span of 2:32 midway through the second half to cushion Eastern's lead.
The goals were the first in the careers of all three Eastern scorers.
Shannon and Godwin both knocked in headers for their goals while Mantel tucked in a cross from freshman forward Janessa Soucy (Milford) for her first goal, then steered the ball in a 1 v. 1 opportunity around Fitchburg State keeper Jillian Kirouac before tucking it inside the left post from a difficult angle to make it 4-0.
Eastern freshman keeper Chelsea Santos (Windsor Locks) needed only one save in her collegiate debut to record the shutout.
The home appearance is the final one in a month for Eastern which begins a stretch of six straight September road matches this coming weekend at the Manhattanville College Valiant Classic. The Warriors face Farmingdale State in their tournament opener Friday at 3:30 p.m.
