Women's Soccer Triumphs in Home Opener, Blanks New Haven
NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Danielle Dion (North Grosvenordale, CT) buried the match's only goal to lift the Merrimack women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over New Haven in the 2011 home opener Sunday afternoon in front of a packed crowd at Warrior Field. With the win, the Warriors rise to 4-0-0 on the season and 2-0-0 in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Chargers sink to 1-2-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the league after the loss.
New Haven just missed scoring an early goal in the ninth minute of the first half. Nicole Pacapelli's header ricocheted off of the outside of the left post, keeping the game scoreless.
The Warriors got on the board in the 27th minute as Dion tallied her second goal of the season. Jessica Peacock (Hopedale, MA) started the build-up out of the back as she took the ball away from a Charger and found Jenn Pino (North Andover, MA) in the center of the field. Pino slotted a through ball to Dion, setting her up for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The sophomore snuck a low hard shot past the diving goalkeeper and just inside the near post to put the hosts ahead 1-0.
New Haven held the lead in shots through the opening 45 minutes of play, 7-3. The visitors also earned a pair of corner kicks while Merrimack recorded one.
In the second half, Dion had an opportunity to net her second goal of the game 5:32 in. Jenna Zechner whipped in a cross from the right side and Dion's one-time shot inside the six-yard box was saved by the Chargers' goalie.
New Haven's Lucy Francisco nearly tied the game with shots inside the penalty box in the 63rd and 64th minutes but Kiley Horne (Scituate, MA) was up for the task and denied both bids with stellar saves.
In the 82nd minute of play, Dion tried looping a shot over the goalkeeper's head as she was off of her line. The striker's arcing attempt came down on top of the crossbar and bounced behind the goal.
The Warriors withstood a barrage of shots and offensive attacks in the final minutes of the game as New Haven pressed for an equalizer. Ultimately, Merrimack held on for its fourth win of the year to remain unbeaten.
The two sides each fired 15 shots in the match while the home team owned a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
Horne finished with nine saves to pick up her second shutout in as many games. Kim Taylor stopped four shots in goal for the Chargers on the day.
"Today was a huge win for us. We kept our composure and we counter-attacked very well today," said head coach Gabe Mejail. "Kiley played really well in goal today. You could hear her commanding from the back and that keeps the defense calmer throughout the game."
Merrimack takes to the road once again, as its next match is at Saint Anselm on September 14 at 4 pm in Manchester, NH.
