Box Score
BRISTOL, R.I. – Three first-half goals helped push the Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team past the University of New England, as the Hawks picked up a 3-1 win Saturday afternoon.
Roger Williams wasted little time getting on the board, as Katie Fusaro (Hopkinton, Mass.) fed Laurin Pendleton (Southwick, Mass.) a short pass through the middle in the second minute, which Pendleton was able to convert for her team-leading 12th goal of the year.
Less than five minutes later, Maddy Howard (Medfield, Mass.) recovered the ball in the box off of a corner kick by Alexa Maher (Hopewell, N.J.). Howard was able to turn and fire before the Nor'Easter defense could react, finding the back of the net and giving RWU a 2-0 lead.
The Hawks held on to their two goal lead until the 23:02 mark, when Elli Arsenault (Saco, Maine) dribbled her way up the middle, setting up shop on the left side, knocking in the shot to the right corner to pull the University of New England within one.
Just before the end of the first half, the Hawks took advantage of a Nor'Easter miscue to tack on another goal. Devon Leighton (Scarborough, Maine) made a through pass up the middle to Hannah Noel (Adams, Mass.), which the UNE defense sniffed out. UNE keeper Jess Woodworth (Concord, N.H.) went to clear the ball out, but due to windy conditions on the pitch, the ball got past her and gave Noel a clear path to the goal for the score.
The two-goal lead for RWU would hold up over the second half as Roger Williams collected its ninth win in a row.
Kelsey McGee (Kings Park, N.Y.) earned the win, needing to make two saves for Roger Williams, while Woodworth stopped five shots for UNE in the loss.
Roger Williams (11-3-0, 10-0-0 TCCC), who moves into sole possession of first place in the TCCC due to Endicott College's 2-3 loss to Wentworth Institute of Technology, will face the Gulls Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The University of New England (10-4-0, 7-3-0 TCCC) plays Curry Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
