Women's Soccer Edged By LIU In NEC Opener

The Central Connecticut women's soccer team opened its 2024 Northeast Conference slate with a
2-1 loss to LIU on Long Island.  After a scoreless first half, the Sharks netted a pair of goals in the first 20:22 of the second half, and the hosts managed to hold off a rally by the visiting Blue Devils to secure the victory.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  LIU 2, CCSU 1
Records: CCSU (0-7-1, 0-1-0 NEC), LIU (2-5-1, 1-0-1 NEC)
Location: LIU Soccer Park | Brookville, NY

KEY MOMENTS

• CCSU put the host Sharks under some early offensive pressure in Sunday's matchup firing off four shots and earning one corner in the first 15 minutes of action.
• LIU did not attempt its first shot on the day until the 16:21 mark of the first half.
• The Blue Devils' Emma Radoncic had the first shot on goal of the day with just under six minutes to go in the opening stanza forcing a fine save from the LIU keeper, Sofia Shakham.  Riley Powers also forced a save by Shakham with just 12 seconds to go in the first half.
• The teams headed into the halftime break scoreless with Central Connecticut holding a seven to four advantage in shots.
• Stephanie Schubert broke the scoreless deadlock for the host Sharks when she found the back of the net off an assist from Emma Panaglotakopoulos six minutes into the second half beating CCSU keeper Taylor DeFlorio with a flick to the top left corner of the net off a cross.
• LIU doubled its advantage to 2-0 in the 66th minute on a tally from Grace Henning assisted by Izzy Stein.
• Senior Abbie Burgess cut the CCSU deficit to just one at 2-1 at the 73:52 mark when she finished a through ball from Gia Edwards for her first goal of the season.  Edwards now has two assists in 2024.
• Aoife Horgan tried to tie things up for the Blue Devils with just 39 seconds remaining in the match, but her shot was saved to keep LIU in front.

NUMBER TO KNOW

6 – Today's goal is the sixth of Burgess' collegiate career

NOTES

• Central outshot the hosts, 16-11, on the afternoon and also finished with a slim 6-5 edge in corners
• Emma Radoncic led the Blue Devils with four shots on the day, plus Riley Powers and Aoife Horgan each contributed three shots to the CCSU effort on offense.
• Taylor DeFlorio was credited with one save in the match for the Blue Devils, and Sofia Shakham made five stops, three of which came in the second half, for the Sharks.
• Prior to Sunday's result, the Blue Devils had posted 10 consecutive victories in the series versus LIU.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils are back in action at home this Thursday, September 26 when FDU comes to New Britain for a 6:00 p.m. NEC clash.