Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Juniors Nikki Basilicato (Guilford) and McKenzie Reimondo (Portland) scored goals and the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team stopped Roger Williams University's 35-game unbeaten streak with a 2-0 non-conference victory in the first game of the Springfield College Invitational Friday afternoon at the Irv Schmid Sports Complex.
In a battle of 2015 conference champions who were both picked as pre-season favorites this year, Eastern controlled play throughout in the season opener for both schools, outshooting the Hawks, 15-3 and being awarded nine of the game's 11 corner kicks.
The win is the seventh straight regular-season triumph for Eastern dating back to last season. Roger Williams, which reached the second round of last year's NCAA tournament, had not lost since a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Springfield College in the second game of the Springfield College Invitational Sept. 6, 2014. Since that loss, the Hawks had won 29 and tied six. RWU was unbeaten last year (20-0-3) until the second-round NCAA loss.
Basilicato gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first half, and Reimondo added insurance when she scored directly off a corner kick midway through the second half. Reimondo's corner bounced off the hands of goalkeeper Natalie O'Donovan, who was stationed at the near post, and over the goal line.
Basilicato scored her 11
th career goal on her only shot when she controlled a short cross from sophomore
Tara Shayler (Avon) in the box, took several touches, and slipped a low shot past junior goalie Sydney Martin, who had given up only nine goals in 20 starts with ten shutouts a year ago.
Junior
Kaley Kennedy (Enfield) and sophomore
Kayla Labrecque (Westhampton, MA) split time in goal in combining on the shutout. Kennedy made two saves in the first half and Labrecque's only save of the second half – when she raced out to clear a dangerous ball with her foot 11 minutes into the second half – preserved the one-goal lead and shutout.
First-team All-Little East senior
Hailey Lehning (Woodbury) and All-New England junior
Emily Becher (Brooklyn) combined for nine shots for Eastern. Becher was stuffed by O'Donovan from in close three minutes into the second half that kept Eastern from taking a 2-0 lead, and Lehning's drive from the left side off a corner kick was saved with 25 minutes left.
Eastern meets Springfield College Saturday at 6:15 p.m. The hosts also posted a 2-0 shutout Friday, over Westfield State University.
