Women's Soccer Advances to NEC Title Game, Shuts Out Sacred Heart, 3-0
The Blue Devils advance to Sunday's NEC Championship game.
The second-seeded Central Connecticut women's soccer team advanced to Sunday's Northeast Conference championship game after defeating third-seeded Sacred Heart, 3-0, on Friday at Saint Francis University.
HIGHLIGHTS
NEC Rookie of the Year, freshman Carla Jackson wasted no time giving the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute of play. Jackson scored her sixth goal of the campaign after freshman Emily Hogan broke away from the Pioneers defenders, slipping a short pass to Jackson, who then rocketed a shot from 25 yards out over the Sacred Heart goalkeeper.
Hogan, an All-NEC Rookie Team selection, produced assists on both of CCSU's goals in the first period. In the 40th minute of action, Hogan zig-zagged her way down the SHU sideline, crossing the ball for junior Laura Casanovas Diaz who finished her second goal of the season to give CCSU a 2-0 lead.
The Blue Devil offense continued to apply pressure and added a goal with 21:50 left to play. Jackson slid a pass ahead to sophomore Danielle Pearse, who got behind the SHU defense and found her self one-on-one with the keeper. Pearse kicked a well-placed shot from 12 yards out into the upper left corner of the goal to make it 3-0.
NEC Goalkeeper of the Year, senior Nicki Turley, completed her league-leading ninth shutout of the season, making five saves on the day.
Central Connecticut, the 2016 NEC Co-Champions, will face the top-seeded Saint Francis University Red Flash on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 12 p.m.
