WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College women's soccer team scored a goal in each half and held off a late push from Southern Vermont College to hang on for a 2-1 victory over the Mountaineers in a New England Collegiate Conference Championship First Round matchup on Tuesday afternoon.

Regis (10-6-2) advances to the NECC Semifinals for the second consecutive season and will take on top-seeded Lesley University on Thursday. Southern Vermont wraps up the 2013 season at 6-9-1 overall.

The Pride struck first only seven minutes in as Regis was awarded a corner kick. Junior Jackie Rocheville (Salem, Mass.) took the free kick for the Pride and lofted the ball high in the air where it bounced on the ground and over the goal line to give the Pride the early 1-0 lead.

The Mountaineers nearly answered six minutes later as Melodie Orrell (Gloucester, Mass.) took control of a Regis turnover at the top of the box and knifed her way through the Pride defense. Orrell found herself one-on-one with the Regis goalie Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.). She put a shot on goal that was snared by Gagnon and kept the Pride on top 1-0.

The score remained 1-0 headed into the half as the two teams combined for only seven shots in the opening period. Regis also held a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks through the first 45 minutes of play. Southern Vermont's Katie Raymond (Bristol, Conn.) made three saves to keep it a one goal game.

Regis tacked on its second tally of the game when Kristen Abreu (Woburn, Mass.) hit Joana Rosa (Roxbury, Mass.) with a nifty through ball that left Rosa by herself against Raymond. Rosa placed a high shot opposite post that hit the back of the net and put the home team on top, 2-0.

The Mountaineers nearly answered in the 72nd minute of play as Jocelyn Ortega (Chula Vista, Calif.) took a free kick that was blocked by the Regis College defensive wall. The ball landed back at Ortega's feet but her second blast was blocked away again by the Regis defense.

Rosa's goal would prove crucial as Southern Vermont cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 77th minute. SVC's Kaitlyn Forant (Hardwick, Vt.) was taken down inside the box which led to a penalty kick for the Mountaineers and Michelle Flores (Pico Rivera, Calif.) stepped to the line and blasted the ball to the top right corner of the net to make it a one goal game.

SVC threatened late as the Mountaineers were awarded a corner kick with just under two minutes to play. Abigail Rosas (Manteca, Calif.) played the ball into the box, but the Pride defense cleared it, and kept the Mountaineers out of their end to hang on for a 2-1 victory.

Regis outshot Southern Vermont at a 11-7 clip and also held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. Rachel Gagnon picked up her 10th win of the season while making a pair of saves in net. SVC's Raymond suffered the setback while making six saves on the day.