BENNINGTON, Vt. — Saturday marked a huge win for the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team as the hosting Mountaineers defeated Regis College 1-0 in overtime for an important New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) victory.
It was only fitting that SVC captain Abigail Rosas (Manteca, Calif.) scored the lone goal during her Senior Day for the program's first-ever win over the Pride in eight all-time meetings (1-6-1). Her second tally of the year came on a free kick 6:58 into the extra stanza, going off the Regis keeper's hands for the celebratory win.
Five departing Mountaineers were recognized and honored prior to the start as the team thanked the years of hard work from Rosas, Rachel Cudo (West Hartford, Conn.), Jess Magee (Sound Beach, N.Y.), Karina Meza (Los Angeles, Calif.), and captain Katelyn Raymond (Bristol, Conn.). SVC additionally congratulated Regis' four seniors in Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.), Sam Salamone (Milford, Mass.), Joana Rosa (Roxbury, Mass.), and Kristen Abreu (Woburn, Mass.).
Southern Vermont is now 9-5-1 on the year and 5-1-1 in NECC action; already with a fifth straight postseason berth secured, the Mountaineers are now firmly in the driver's seat to host a first round playoff game. The victory also assures that SVC will at least match its best-ever record in the NECC since the inception of the Conference for the 2008 season (5-3-1 in 2012). The Pride fall to 5-9-2 and 3-3-1 in league play with the loss.
The Mountaineers are back in action on Wednesday with a 3:30 p.m. NECC matchup at Bay Path University that will serve crucial in determining postseason seeding. Regis next visits Newbury College at The Winsor School in Boston, Mass. on Tuesday, that Conference start time under the lights slated for 8 p.m.
Saturday was a defensive battle with each team only getting 10 shots off throughout the contest. RC had a 4-3 edge in shots on goal, but it was the last Southern Vermont take that made the difference. SVC had a great opportunity about 10 minutes into the match, working the ball deep into the Regis end of the field before getting it into the box. Junior Lauren Nesshoever (Chittenden, Vt.) found freshman Molly Madore (Higganum, Conn.) with a nice through ball between the Pride defense, and the rookie pulled the trigger from about 10 yards away from net. Gagnon was able to come up with a big-time diving save, however, extending to her right to turn away the shot; the Pride defense cleaned up and cleared the loose ball, keeping the second SVC wave from knocking in the rebound. The only other shot on frame for the remainder of the half was a mis-hit ball by Regis that was grabbed up by SVC sophomore keeper Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) to maintain the scoreless stalemate.
Both sides manufactured a few more chances through the second period, but the defenses played tough in the cold, windy conditions to force shots from afar and into traffic. Regis had a good look in the 77th minute after a Pride attacker poked the ball from a Mountaineer trying to clear it, finding junior Hannah Bouvette (Mattapoisett, Mass.) in the middle of the pitch about 25 yards out; she took a touch to elude the SVC defender and set herself, but her left-footed shot just didn't get all of it as the attempt, directed to the right side of the frame, was corralled by Mascari who hit the deck to pull it in.
With a few ticks under three minutes remaining in regulation, Southern Vermont came inches from getting the go-ahead score. SVC freshman Ally McNamee (Freehold, N.J.) got the ball with space at the top of the box and sent a well-placed shot to the lower right corner of the goal, but it nicked the inside of the post and ricocheted back through the penalty area to keep the Mountaineers off the board. That would be the last quality chance for either team as the tense offensive struggle went to the extra period.
Just 29 seconds into the overtime, Regis had a good look at net as Pride sophomore Tais Salles (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) got the ball right outside of the box on the right edge, but her shot was just a bit too high while getting carried by the wind to miss her mark. SVC then came close to ending it about a minute later, but Gagnon's best friend once again kept the hosts off the scoreboard. On the right side of the field, Madore beat a Regis player to a loose ball and was able to get a shot off despite having a narrow angle to take it from; the lofted take soared over Gagnon but caught the far post, and Regis cleared out the carom to prevent a round opportunity.
RC got a shot on goal at the 94:07 mark, but it was right at Mascari who made the snag for play to continue. Then, almost three minutes later, SVC notched the game winner on an awarded free kick from the right side. With a tight angle at the frame, Rosas directed the set piece before hitting a curling ball with her left foot at the near post. Gagnon made a play on it, but the shot took the edge and ticked off her glove, into the side netting for the senior Mountaineer's third career tally and first collegiate game winner.
Mascari made four saves for her fourth shutout of the year (7-5-1), putting her just three away from tying the program's all-time record for clean sheets with a total of nine in just two years. Gagnon finished the day with a pair of saves in the effort.
Release Courtesy of Southern Vermont College Sports Information