New England College Edges Fitchburg State, 1-0

Ford registers ten saves for Falcons

HENNIKER, N.H. – New England College first-year forward Sara Locke  netted the game-winner with just 1:46 remaining in regulation lifting the Pilgrims past the visiting Fitchburg State University Falcons 1-0 in non-conference women's soccer action Tuesday evening.

With the win the Pilgrims improve to 8-3-0 overall, while the loss drops the Falcons to 2-7-1 on the season.

Neither team would muster a goal in the opening half of play as the best scoring opportunity for either team came in the 30^th minute as Jaycie Triandafilou would get off a shot off a Pilgrim corner but Falcon keeper Kelsey Ford would redirect the shot off target.

The two teams would continue their scoreless battle through much of the second half as the Pilgrims would have an early scoring opportunity in the 68^th minute as Locke would fire a shot that would ricochet off the post.  The Falcons best scoring chance came in the 77^th minute as Victoria Floeck had an open look but the Pilgrim defense would come in and make a huge team save keeping 0-0 stalemate intact.

NEC would continue to put on the offensive pressure late as Locke would come through with the game- winner in the 88^th minute putting in a loose ball off the body of Brooke LePage. 

Throughout the contest, New England College held a 15-7 margin in shots, while also holding a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks. In between the pipes, junior Tricia Sardagnola collected six saves en-route to the complete game shutout, Ford recorded 10 saves in 90 minutes of work for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State (2-7-1, 0-1-1 MASCAC) returns to action on Saturday as it visits the Trailblazers of MCLA for a contest starting at 1 p.m. New England College (8-3-0, 1-1-0 NAC) will host Green Mountain College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.