Box Score
BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team closed out 2011 regular season with a 4-0 victory over local rival Johnson & Wales University Monday afternoon.
The win for the Hawks improves the team's overall record to 12-6-1, while Johnson & Wales falls to 11-6-2.
In the first half, Roger Williams played with an aggressive offensive attack, holding possession within the Wildcats' end of the field for most of the period and outshooting JWU by a 19-1 margin.
The Hawks had plenty of opportunities to score in the period, including a header by Michelle Meagher (Sudbury, Mass.) off a corner that just missed wide right in the eighth minute. Towards the end of the period, JWU goalie Kara Collins (North Arlington, N.J.) turned away a pair of shots by Hannah Noel (Adams, Mass.) and Tory Benoit (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to hold the Hawks off the board.
RWU's persistence paid off in the 40th minute, when Noel took a pass from Kristen Tetreault (Tolland, Conn.) in the middle of the box and chipped the ball over Collins for the first score of the game. Less than a minute later, Tetreault connected to Noel again for another goal to put the Hawks on top 2-0 to close out the half.
The Hawks wasted little time scoring in the second period, with Tetreault knocking in a put-back off of a Katie Fusaro (Hopkinton, Mass.) shot to increase the Hawk lead to three.
The Wildcats offense fared somewhat better in the second half but still could not find the back of the net thanks to the Hawk defense. Taryn Roussel (Ivoryton, Conn.) made a crucial clear in the 55th minute for RWU, outrunning Alexa Appelman (Marlboro, N.J.) to a loose ball in the box. In the 79th minute, Siobain McIlvain (Dover, Del.) had a beautiful pass to Kayla Sypek (Westhampton, Mass.) picked off by Stephanie Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) with a sliding grab.
Roger Williams added its final goal of the game in the 85th minute; with Hannah Zydanowicz (Newington, Conn.) making a play on the ball at midfield and feeding Laurin Pendleton (Southwick, Mass.) a long pass to the right. Pendleton chipped a shot to the left side of the net for the Hawks' fourth score of the game.
With the score, Pendleton becomes only the second player in RWU Women's Soccer history with 50 career goals, trailing Emily Seeling '04 by six for the school record.
Jaques made three saves in the game for the win, before Kelsey McGee (Kings Park, N.Y.) came in and made two saves in the final 22:36. Collins stayed busy in the net for Johnson & Wales, making eight saves in the contest.
“Hannah [Noel] today showed she can be a top-class finisher,” said Head Coach Tim Moody. “The first goal was all about being in the right place at the right time, understanding where goals are scored. This turned out to be the game winner, but I could see she was sharp and wanted more. Then her second was a world-class finish. Kristen [Tetreault] set her free down the middle and she finished with a quality strike, Thierry Henry would have been proud to score a goal of this quality, her best this season so far.
'Katie's [Fusaro] hard work and constant pressure helped with the third goal, Kristin followed up when it looked like Katie was into score after jinxing past and around her defender after receiving a ball from Maddy [Howard]. Katie is a persistent thorn in most teams back line. She never lets them rest.
“Our fourth goal was special too. Hannah [Zydanowicz] got back on defense, won a tackle, burst forward at speed and then made a beautiful pass to Laurin [Pendleton] who pulled off her marker. She finished like a player who has scored fifty goals at the collegiate level.
“Our attacking style would not be possible if we didn't have a strong back line. Any time we attack we are confident that our defense will hold and shut out the other teams' top players. They have been outstanding all season.
“All in all it was a great to sit back and watch the team play at a very high level tonight, control the game and get the result in style. We have looked very good all over the pitch during the last few weeks. We are all excited for the play-offs and cannot wait for the game on Saturday.”
Roger Williams will await the UNE/Eastern Nazarene final to determine if the Hawks earn the #1 or #2 seed in the upcoming Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament. In either scenario, RWU will host either Western New England University or Nichols College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Johnson & Wales wraps up the regular season on Wednesday at Salve Regina University.
