Box Score NEW BRITAIN, Conn.—The Sacred Heart women's soccer team fell on the road to Central Connecticut on Sunday night, 2-0. The Pioneers (5-5-4, 2-1-1 NEC) suffered their first defeat in Northeast Conference play to the Blue Devils (7-8-1, 5-0 NEC) who remain unbeaten in five conference games.
Sacred Heart came into the contest not allowing a goal in its previous four games, while CCSU had not allowed a goal in league play. It proved to be a defensive battle as both teams combined for 10 shots on the day. The Pioneers led 6-4 with five of them coming in the first half. CCSU keeper Nikki Turley, a two time NEC goalkeeper of the year stopped a header and shot by sophomores Lindsay Corallo and Melanie DaSilva early in the first. The Blue Devils took the 1-0 lead on a free kick from Kelly Halligan who sent it up and over the reach of sophomore Nicole Sambuco from 25 yards out at the 17-minute mark. Sacred Heart's lone shot of the second half came on a free kick from sophomore Alex Mesropyan inside the box but it was knocked down by the CCSU defense. The Blue Devils would seal the game in the final minute on a header by Danielle Pearse on the cross by Carla Jackson.
The Pioneers return home to Campus Field to take on Saint Francis U on Friday October 21 at 5:00pm.
First Half
- A Header attempt by Corallo was saved by Turley in the fourth minute.
- Halligan's free kick from 25 yards got past a diving Sambuco in the 17th minute.
- Turley saved another header attempt by Sacred Heart. This time Kylie Roberts with the try.
Second Half
- Sambuco made a spectacular save to punch away a shot by Emily Hogan from 15 yards out.
- Mesropyan's indirect free kick got knocked down by the CCSU defense.
- The Blue Devils secured the game on a header by Danielle Pearse off the cross by Carla Jackson.
