NORTON, Mass., November 5, 2005 - Springfield College junior midfielder Margaret Mertzic (Barre, Mass.) scored her fifth goal of the season in the 88th minute of play as the No. 2 Pride defeated No. 3 Clark University in the semifinal round of the 2005 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Women's Soccer Tournament, 2-0, this afternoon (Nov. 5) at Wheaton College.

For SC (13-4-2), it was the Pride's record-tying 10th-straight victory, as SC has played its way into its third NEWMAC championship match. The Pride will take on the host and No. 1 seed, Wheaton College, as the Lyons defeated Smith College in the first semifinal match of the day by a 4-0 margin. The Pride last reached the NEWMAC Finals in 2003, losing to Wheaton.

After a scoreless first half, SC took a 1-0 advantage on an own goal by Clark in the 51st minute of action (50:38). Then, at the 87:14 mark, Mertzic doubled the Pride's lead, netting a shot off a feed from junior midfielder Jessica Denehy (Whately, Mass.) to put the match out of reach.

Sophomore goalkeeper Amanda Petri (East Granby, Conn.) saved four Cougar shots on goal while recording her fifth shutout of the season. Petri has now compiled an 11-2-1 record on the season.

No. 2 SC will take on No. 1 Wheaton College tomorrow afternoon, November 6, in a 1:00 p.m. championship match at Wheaton's Mirrione Stadium in Norton.

published: 11/05/2005