Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- The Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team outshot Westfield State University 15-5 and held a +9 advantage in corners kicks, but the Owls scored the tying goal in the final 20 minutes of regulation in a 1-1 non-conference double-overtime draw Saturday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.
At right: Freshman Rachel Berkowsky battles Kenzie Saltmarsh of Westfield State in Saturday's 1-1, double-overtime non-conference tie at Thomas Nevers Field. Berkowsky earned her first collegiate point in the match with an assist early in the second half. (Photo by Liam Murphy)
The tie was the first between the clubs in this 22-game series. Eastern (3-1-1) is unbeaten (2-0-1) in its last three. Westfield (3-2-1) continued a strong early schedule which has included two teams ranked in the top ten of their respective regions.
Eastern threatened several times early but could not break through until the opening six minutes of the second half. As time progressed, Westfield began taking the better of play, finally gaining the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Westfield had a great chance to end the game two minutes into overtime, but Eastern freshman keeper Katie Dadio (Hamden) robbed Westfield sophomore Kate Matroni after she had taken a nice feed in transition from senior Kayla Sypek. With eight minutes left in overtime, senior Sarah Sypek nearly had her second goal of the match when she tracked down a crossing pass which travelled untouched across the box. Sypek turned and unloaded an 18-yard shot which sailed above the crossbar.
With eight starting freshmen and sophomores, Eastern had two prime chances in the first ten minutes. Freshman Emily Becher (Brooklyn), last week's ECAC Rookie-of-the-Week, nearly scored from the left flank on a bad angle, but her drive rolled just wide of the right post. Less than two minutes later, sophomore Hailey Lehning (Woodbury) sent a crossing pass from junior Maggie Sayers (Windsor Locks) over the crossbar.
Lehning's second goal of the season early in the second half on a beautiful cross into the box by freshman Rachel Berkowsky (Stoughton, MA) – Berkowsky's first collegiate point – had staked freshman keeper Kaley Kennedy (Enfield) to a 1-0 lead. That advantage held up until the 72nd minutes, when Sarah Sypek scored on a counter after Eastern lost possession in its own end.
Sophomore Anne Stack made six saves in net for the Owls, who were outshot 15-5 and finished on the short end of a 13-4 corner kick count.
Eastern visits Fitchburg State University Wednesday at 7 p.m.
