Carressi delivers game-winning goal in the 70th minute

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Springfield College women's soccer team will play in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament championship game for the sixth-straight season as the third-seeded Pride defeated second-seeded Wheaton College, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Jack Barry Field on the campus of MIT.

Springfield senior forward Ashley Carresi (Billerica, Mass./Marlborough) delivered the game-winning goal in the 70th minute striking a shot past the outstretched reach of Wheaton sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Wilson (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) from the right flank into the back of the net after stealing a pass at midfield.

Senior forward Nina Vital (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) gave the Pride an early 1-0 lead in the sixth minute redirecting a cross by sophomore Nicole Fowler (Maynard, Mass./Hudson) just over the goal line after it ricocheted off of the crossbar.

Wheaton sophomore Julia Cipriano (Middlebury, Conn./Pomperaug) evened the score at 1-1 in the 23rd minute beating Springfield junior goalkeeper Lucy Gillett (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Hofstra) who was out of position due to a defensive breakdown. Lyons' junior midfielder/back Kelsee Howes (Maynard, Mass./Maynard) was credited with an assist on the tally playing a cross into the box over the defense from the right side.

Both teams finished tied in shots at 11-11, while Wheaton held a 5-1 advantage in corners. The Lyons applied pressure late in the second half after falling behind 2-1 recording six shots and three corners down the stretch.

Gillett turned aside one shot in the win to improve to 8-3-1 on the season. Wilson made a game-high six saves in the loss.

Springfield (13-4-3, 6-1-3 NEWMAC) plays first-seeded MIT in the NEWMAC Championship tomorrow at 3 p.m. on Jack Barry Field. The Engineers advanced to the title game with a 3-0 victory in penalty kicks after playing to a 0-0 double overtime draw against fifth-seeded Babson. Wheaton (14-6-2, 8-1-1 NEWMAC) awaits a possible at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

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