BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Top-seeded University of Bridgeport advanced to a championship game of the East Coast Conference Women's Soccer Tournament following a 4-0 victory over Daemen College in semifinal round action here this afternoon.
Daemen, which was making its first-ever appearance in the ECC Tournament, closed out the year with an 8-8-1 overall record. Bridgeport, which is ranked fourth in this week's United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II East Region poll, is now 10-1-1 over its last 12 games and improved to 13-4-1 overall.
UB advances to play third-seeded Long Island University Post in the tournament championship game. LIU Post posted a 2-1 (2 OT) victory over second-second and defending champion Mercy College today.
Today's game remained scoreless until just under 14 minutes remained in the first half when the Purple Knights got a goal from junior Maegen Doyle (Harwicih, England). Defender Marieke Kramer (Megchelen, Netherlands) pinched in on the left flank, took a pass from the midfield and sent the ball into the Daemen box. Flores made an initial save, but Doyle pounced on a loose ball and netted her 20th goal of the year from five yards out.
The Purple Knights doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half when Doyle and Kramer teamed up again. Kramer once again dribbled down the left flank and sent a low pass to the front of the Daemen net. The ball found the foot of Doyle and she one-timed a low shot past Daemen net minder Maddie Flores (Seattle, Wash.) from 10 yards out.
The hosts closed out the scoring with two goals in the final 10 minutes. Doyle's shot from 20 yards out went off the post and was banged home by freshman Anisha Hill (Woking, England) at 79:18. It marked the seventh goal if the year for Hill. The final tally came off the foot of sophomore Sara Berglund (Borlange, Sweden) with less than a minute to play.
Bridgeport finished with a 36-1 edge in total shots and a 21-1 advantage in shots on goal. The hosts also posted a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Flores went the distance in net for the Wildcats and finished with a career-high 16 saves. Senior Jennifer Wendelius (Lidingo, Sweden) stopped just one shot for Bridgeport en route to her eighth shutout of the season.
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