SPRINGFIELD, Mass., September 1, 2006 – The Springfield College women’s soccer team opened its 2006 season by defeating local-rival Westfield State College, 4-0, this afternoon in the second game of the first day of the Springfield College Invitational at SC’s Brock-Affleck Field.

In the day’s first contest, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and St. Joseph College of Connecticut battled to 0-0 tie in double overtime.

Tomorrow’s pre-determined second-round matches will feature St. Joseph (Conn.) vs. Westfield State at 12:00 p.m., followed by MCLA and SC at 2:30 p.m.

The SC Invitational, one of four on the Springfield College campus this weekend, began with the Blue Jays of St. Joseph meeting the Trailblazers of MCLA. St. Joseph appeared to have the better of the statistics, outshooting MCLA, 13-6. St. Joseph also had four corner kicks to MCLA’s three.

Junior goalkeeper Kristean Kissel (Champlain, N.Y.) recorded eight saves for MCLA, while freshman Cait Whitman (Prospect, Conn.) had two saves for St. Joseph in 110 minutes of play. MCLA was led by sixth-year coach Deb Raber, who received her graduate degree from Springfield in 2000.

In game #2, the Pride had the better of it in shots (14-6) and corner kicks (5-0), and that was reflected in the score. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Peltier (Agawam, Mass.), last year’s New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Rookie of the Year, opened the scoring at 13:29. She was assisted by freshman midfielder Jillian Pereira (East Providence, R.I.).

About eight minutes later, at 21:23, senior forward and tri-captain Annemarie Goodwin (Springfield, Mass.) knocked one home off a scramble in front to give SC a 2-0 advantage. That was the score at halftime.

The Pride struck twice more fairly early in the second half. Sophomore forward Nicole Hanewich (Cumberland, R.I.) scored an unassisted goal at 48:15, just 3:15 into the second half. Finally, senior midfielder Michelle Bongiovanni (West Springfield, Mass.) rolled one in off a rebound at 52:52. Goodwin had the assist.

Both goalkeepers - senior Natalia Araszkiewicz (Framingham, Mass.) of Westfield State, and junior Amanda Petri (East Granby, Conn.) of SC - were credited with five saves. Petri recorded the shutout.

published: 09/01/2006