WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College women's soccer team controlled the action for the vast majority of the night on its way to a 3-1 victory over Eastern Nazarene College Tuesday night in a non-conference collegiate match at Regis Stadium.
The Pride broke through in the 35th minute when Payton Fitzgerald (Danielson, Conn.) stole the ball deep in Lion territory, made a couple of moves, and sent a shot past Eastern Nazarene goalie Sarah Moschini for her first goal of the season, giving Regis a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
In the 53rd minute, Regis went on the attack again, as Kaylee Francis (Millis, Mass.) sent a crossing pass to Fitzgerald on the left wing, and Fitzgerald kicked the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the night, extending the Regis lead to 2-0.
Eastern Nazarene (1-2) struck back just over a half-minute later, taking the ensuing kickoff into the Pride defensive zone. On a scramble in the box, Sam Bernardi collected the ball and found Briana Taylor, who beat Regis goalie Angie Caldwell (Goffstown, N.H.) to cut the Pride lead in half with over 36 minutes left in the second half.
The Pride limited the Lions' chances, holding Eastern Nazarene to five total shots while taking 26 shots of their own. Regis added an insurance goal in the 72nd minute when Francis collected her own rebound and slid the ball past Moschini for her second goal of the year.
Moschini kept the Lions in the match by making 14 saves, and she received some luck when a shot by Noelle Garcia (Los Angeles, Calif.) early in the second half hit the right post. Caldwell played the first complete match of her collegiate career, earning two saves as she picked up her first career victory.
Rachel Kelly (Whitman, Mass.) led Regis with seven total shots, with Fitzgerald taking six shots during the contest. Five different Eastern Nazarene players finished with one shot apiece in the match.
Regis (2-1) enters GNAC play this weekend, traveling to East Boston to face Suffolk University Saturday, Sept. 8, starting at 3 p.m., followed by a home match against Saint Joseph's College next Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. Eastern Nazarene next plays at Massachusetts Maritime Thursday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m.