WESTON, Mass. – Freshman Tais Salles' (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) first career goal turned out to be the difference maker as Regis College held on for a 2-1 victory over Eastern Nazarene College on Tuesday night in non-conference women's soccer action in Weston, Mass. The Pride improve to 2-2-1 on the year, while the Lions drop to 3-5.
The win was the first for the Pride against Eastern Nazarene dating back to the 2006 season, a 2-0 victory for Regis on September 12, 2006.
The win was also career win number 34 for head coach Liz Conant, who became the winningest coach in Regis women's soccer history. Conant moves ahead of Peter Counsell who was the first head coach in Pride history from 1984-1992.
The Pride's Olivia Hamill (Sudbury, Mass.) had the first two chances for the Pride as she found herself alone at the top of the box with a shooting lane on two occasions, but Kristin Farley (Westminster, Mass.) was there for the stop each time. In the eighth minute, Jackie Rocheville (Salem, Mass.) played a corner kick into the box that found the head of Michaela Bouvette (Mattapoisett, Mass.), but her attempt sailed high and the score remained 0-0.
ENC had their first chance of the game as Jules Speno (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) played a through ball to Hannah Scahill (Quaker Hill, Conn.). Scahill found herself one-on-one with the Pride's keeper Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.) and she was able to get a shot past the keeper that missed left.
On the ensuing possession, Regis worked the ball deep into the Lions' half of the field. ENC eventually gained control and tried to clear the zone. Michaela Bouvette stepped up and intercepted the clearing pass, playing a pass of her own to the top of the box for Joana Rosa (Roxbury, Mass.). Rosa took one touch, and blasted the ball opposite post where it found the back of the net and gave Regis the early 1-0 lead.
ENC threatened in the final 20 minutes of the half as Scahill and Speno each put shots on frame that were turned away by Gagnon. With less than seven minutes to play, the Lions were awarded a corner kick that Katherine Lawrence (Marlborough, Conn.) placed perfectly in the box, but Gagnon leapt into the air and snagged the ball out of mid-air to stop the threat. Neither team threatened the rest of the way as the game entered the half 1-0 in favor of the home team.
The Lions nearly found the equalizer early in the second stanza as ENC earned a free kick from just outside the 18 after a handball by the Pride. Jules Speno stepped to the ball and fired it opposite post, but it bent just a bit too far, and Eastern Nazarene remained down a goal. In the 69th minute of action, the Lions played a cross into the box that left Kelly Couite (West Bridgewater, Mass.) alone on the left side. As she tried to play the ball back across, Rachel Gagnon came out and blocked the pass attempt out of bounds. On the ensuing throw, Kiara Ketchuck (Taunton, Mass.) fired a shot on net that was blocked by a Regis defender, but bounced right back to her. She reloaded and fired a shot opposite post that Gagnon was there to scoop up and keep it a 1-0 game.
A few minutes later, Jasmin Vivar (Attleboro, Mass.) played a perfectly placed through ball to Salles, who stayed onside, and after a few dribbles, blasted the ball into the back left corner of the net for the two goal lead.
Salles' goal would prove crucial as Eastern Nazarene turned up the pressure and forced a turnover deep inside the Regis zone. Less than a minute after Salles' tally, Sam Williams (Forest Hill, Md.) controlled the ball at the top right corner of the box and fired on net, the ball caroming off the crossbar and into the goal to make it a 2-1 game.
ENC continued to attack but the Regis defense and Rachel Gagnon were up to the task. With 12 minutes to play, Speno controlled the ball at the top of the box and tried to go opposite post again, but Gagnon was there for the easy save. Less than three minutes later, Kyera Bryant (Guilford, Conn.) received a pass down the right side and she beat Gagnon one-on-one, firing the ball on net, but Jackie Rocheville was there to send the ball out of bounds and avoid any damage.
In the 87th minute, Bryant had another chance as a failed clear by the Pride left her all alone on the left side. She wound up and fired a shot, but it sailed high over the crossbar. Nearly 40 seconds later, Speno had a chance to tie it, but Rocheville jumped in front of the shot again to protect the one goal lead. On the ensuing corner, Lauren Kett (Norwich, England) played the ball into the box, but Gagnon leapt into the air again to disrupt the set piece. The Lions had one more chance with less than a minute to play, but they were called offsides, leading to a Regis clear and a 2-1 win for the home team.
Eastern Nazarene held a 17-7 advantage in shots and also held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. Rachel Gagnon made seven saves to earn her second win of the year, while Kristen Farley made four saves of her own in the setback.
The Crimson and Gold return to action next Tuesday when they host the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) at 4:00 p.m. in a rematch of the 2012 ECAC Quarterfinals. Eastern Nazarene will host Johnson & Wales University on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.