2005 NEC Women's Soccer Championship Recaps
Hosted By Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Semifinals
Friday, November 4
#1 Central Connecticut State 2, #4 Sacred Heart 0
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#2 Long Island 1, #3 St. Francis (PA) 0
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Championship
Sunday, November 6
#1 Central Connecticut State 1, Long Island 0
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NEC Championship Recap
#1 Central Connecticut State 1, #2 Long Island 0
New Britain, CT -- Central Connecticut earned its fourth consecutive Northeast Conference Tournament Championship with a 1-0 win over on the CCSU Soccer Field in New Britain. Junior Jessica McCavanagh scored the game’s lone goal, while senior Ashley Ferra made one save to earn her 10th shutout on the year. With the school record 17th victory, which was the Blue Devils 12th in a row, CCSU gained a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils, who are 17-3 on the year, will now wait for the NCAA bracket to be released on Monday between 5 and 5:30 p.m. on ESPNnews.
McCavanagh, who was named the tournament most valuable player, scored the game-winner in the 65th minute. Freshman Siobhan McCaffrey played a ball into the 18 yard box from beyond midfield, and McCavanagh tapped it in after the ball found its way by a charging Blackbird goalkeeper Stephanie Kansky.
The Blue Devil defense, headed by all-tournament team selection Megan Kavanaugh, preserved the win over the final 25 minutes, during which Long Island did not attempt a shot on goal.
Central Connecticut had the first opportunity to score, but a McCavanagh goal was called back on a offsides call at 12:38 into the game. The two teams combined for just three shots during the scoreless first period, with Long Island holding a 2-1 advantage.
The Blue Devils challenged the Blackbird defense again with 33:36 remaining in the game, but a Long Island defender blocked McCaffrey’s free kick from just outside the 18 to foil the effort.
Overall, Long Island out shot CCSU 5-3. The Blue Devils, however, held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks and a 2-1 edge in shots on goal. Kansky, a junior, made one save in the losing effort.
With the loss, Long Island finished the year with 13-6-1 record.
The Blue Devils will return to action next weekend in NCAA first round action. Their opponent and game time will be made official on Monday, Nov. 7, between 5 and 5:30 p.m.
NEC All-Tournament Team
Orlagh Cullen – Sacred Heart senior midfielder
Janice Rodriguez – Sacred Heart freshman defender
Terri Rockovich – St. Francis (PA) junior defender
Chastity Liberatore – St. Francis (PA) junior defender
Selima Berisha – Long Island junior forward
Jackie McCormick – Long Island senior forward
Fabrieanna Rezayat – Long Island senior defender
Siobhan McCaffrey – CCSU freshman midfielder
Megan Kavanaugh – CCSU senior defender
Ashley Ferra – CCSU senior goalkeeper
Jess McCavanagh – CCSU junior forward (MVP)
NEC Semifinal Recap #1
#1 Central Connecticut State 2, #4 Sacred Heart 0
New Britain, CT -- Three-time defending champion and top-seeded Central Connecticut used two second half goals to advance to its fourth straight Northeast Conference Championship game defeating Sacred Heart 2-0 in New Britain on Friday afternoon in the first of two semifinal games to be played on Friday. The Blue Devils, winners of 11 straight and 16-3 on the season, will face second-seeded Long Island in Sunday’s championship game at 12:00 noon in New Britain. Sacred Heart finishes its season with an 8-10-1 overall mark.
The two teams played a scoreless first half with the Blue Devils holding a 5-2 advantage in shots. Sacred Heart goalkeeper Ashley Mocarski made a pair of saves for the Pioneers while Blue Devil goalkeeper Ashley Ferra made one save on a direct kick by the Pioneers in the half.
The Blue Devils broke through at the 58:52 mark on the second half when First Team All-Conference forward Jessica McCavanagh beat Mocarski in the lower right corner with her ninth goal of the year to give the Blue Devils the 1-0 advantage. Freshman Siobhan McCaffrey had the assist for CCSU.
Central Connecticut upped its lead to 2-0 with under 3:00 to play in the second half when freshman Lauren Shepland took a cross from fellow freshman Ingrid Bohlin with 87:09 on the clock and beat Mocarski in the lower left corner of the goal. It was Shepland’s second goal of the season.
Mocarski made five saves in goal in the loss for Sacred Heart. Ferra, who posted a new school-record with her ninth shutout of the season, made a pair of saves for the Blue Devils. The 2005 Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year ups her record to 13-2 on the year. At 16-3, Central Connecticut matches its school-record for victories in a season.
Central Connecticut outshot Sacred Heart 11-4 in the game including 6-2 in the second half. Each team had a pair of corner kicks on the day.
CCSU advances to Sunday’s NEC Championship game for the fourth straight season. The game will kickoff at noon in New Britain on the CCSU Soccer Field.
NEC Semifinal Recap #2
#2 Long Island 1, #3 St. Francis (PA) 0
New Britain, CT -- Second-seed Long Island held third-seed St. Francis (PA) to three shots on goal and advanced to Sunday’s Championship Game of the 2005 Northeast Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament with a 1-0 shutout win over the Red Flash in New Britain, CT. The Blackbirds, now 13-5-1 on the season, advance to Sunday’s Championship game where they will face top seed Central Connecticut beginning at noon in New Britain. St. Francis (PA) ends its season withy an 11-7-3 mark.
After a scoreless first half, Long Island’s Jackie McCormick gave the Blackbirds the only goal they would need at the 53:32 mark beating St. Francis (PA) goalkeeper Melanie Stockman on a corner kick. Christine Gans had the assist for LIU.
McCormick had a game-high five shots including three shots on goal for the winners.
Long Island goalkeeper Stephanie Kansky, a Second-Team All-Conference pick this season, made one save in net to earn her fourth shutout of the season. Stockman had four saves in the loss for the Red Flash.
The Blackbirds outshot the Red Flash 11-3 on the day including 5-1 in the second half. The Red Flash had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Blackbirds will face host and top seed Central Connecticut in Sunday’s final at noon in New Britain. The Blue Devils defeated the Blackbirds 1-0 earlier this season. LIU enters the game on a nine-game unbeaten streak (five straight wins) while the Blue Devils have won 11 straight matches heading into Sunday’s championship game.