Box Score
MANSFIELD, Conn. — Eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island College combined for 24 shots, but play to a scoreless draw. With this result, the Warriors clinch their first outright regular-season title in nine years and as the No. 1 seed, will on Wednesday at 4 p.m., will host the winner of a Saturday first-round match between No. 4 seed Western Connecticut and No. 5 Rhode Island College (WestConn and RIC tied for fourth with 13 points but WestConn won the tie-breaker with a 2-0 regular-season win over the Anchorwomen. With 17 points, Eastern finished a point ahead of Keene State College in the final standings. The Owls scored midway through the second half to trim homestanding VTSU Castleton Wednesday night.
Game Information:
- Score: Eastern Connecticut State University: 0, Rhode Island College: 0
- Records: ECSU (10-4-3, 5-1-2 LEC), RIC (9-6-1, 4-3-1 LEC)
- Location: Mansfield, CT (Rick McCarthy Field)
Key Moments:
- The first real chance of the game for the Warriors was created by Kylie Gentile (Berlin). She picks up an errant pass in the Anchorwomen's third of the field and whips in a dangerous ball to Keira Rogers (Portsmouth, RI). With multiple defenders in the area, her shot is not enough to beat Oceanna Orlandi in net
- Tayshia Cary wins the ball back for the Anchorwomen and Caitlyn Terceiro takes over, delivering a perfectly weighted through ball to Hannah Rezendes. Faced with a tough angle, she cannot slide the ball past Alex Ignatowicz (Coventry) with her effort
- Michaela Gasparri (Prospect) lets the ball bounce over her head off a throw in from Brooke Bolles (Preston). With the defender behind her, she is able to roam into the six-yard box and fire a shot towards goal. Her shot is saved but finds the feet of Glenda Zhiminaicela (Clinton), who has her attempt blocked by Karen Johnson-Hoffman before it can reach goal
- The Warriors link up well in he midfield, with the ball eventually finding an open Gentile. Her shot from long range is tipped just over the bar by Orlandi
- Just five minutes later, Orlandi comes up big for the Anchorwomen again. Eastern Connecticut are once again able to put the ball in a threatening area, but Katelyn Herbert (Bethpage, NY) forces a great save from Orlandi from only a few yards away
Game Notes:
- Despite the scoreless draw, both teams had several chances. Orlandi made 8 saves for the Anchorwomen and Ignatowicz had 4 for the Warriors. Ignatowicz posted her fourth full shutout (she also shared two) in 13 starts this year.
- Eastern Connecticut dominated the corner kick tally 11-0, finding some of their best opportunities in the game of these set pieces
- Rhode Island College used just one substitute, Brooklyn Marinelli, who replaced Sarah Pimentel for the first 18 minutes of the second half
- The teams did not play to a scoreless tie in the first 29 meetings but have played scoreless soccer each of the last two years. Since winning eight streak in the series, Eastern is 0-1-2 vs. RIC the last three years. The Warriors lead the all-time series, 23-5-3.
