BRISTOL, R.I. – Despite a hard fought effort by the Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team, the Hawks were unable to advance to the ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Championship game, as RWU fell to Keene State College Saturday afternoon by a 2-1 score.
Both teams battled through a stiff wind and chilly temperatures in the semifinal matchup, leading to aggressive play and long passing on each side.
Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) scored the first goal of the game, heading a long cross from Michelle Boland (Worcester, Mass.) in the 32nd minute to put the Owls up by one. Keene State took the 1-0 advantage into halftime, but would soon give it up.
Seven minutes into the second half,
Caitlin Mayo (Merrimack, N.H.) fired a free kick at the net, but was dropped by goalie Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.). As the ball trickled away from her, an opportunistic
Mary daCunha (Wethersfield, Conn.) made a heads-up play on the ball, putting in a shot into the open net for the equalizer.
With the game tied at one, the Owls wasted little time in answering back. At the 55:52 mark, a frenzied surge for the ball after a corner kick ended in Keene State's favor, when Renee Halsey (Francestown, N.H.) headed a shot just outside the reach of
Jen Garside (Londonderry, N.H.) for what eventually amounted to the game-winning goal.
Garside made eight saves for RWU in the game, with Hirsh stopping two shots for the Owls.
Keene State advances to the ECAC Championship game against top-seeded Brandeis University, who defeated No. 5 seed MIT, 1-0, earlier in the day. Roger Williams University finishes the season with a record of 16-6-1.
