UMASS BREAKS THROUGH AGAINST EASTERN W-SOCCER
BOSTON – Since losing the first 13 games in this series against the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team – 11 by shutout – the University of Massachusetts Boston has played competitively, but without a win.
Until Saturday.
In a battle of the two remaining Little East Conference teams, UMass (13-1-0, 5-0-0 LEC) got a late goal from LEC scoring leader Krista Ledin -- her 16th of the season -- with ten minutes left as the Beacons outshot the Warriors, 20-6, and did not allow a corner kick in a key 1-0 victory.
Massachusetts Boston, which made its first appearance ever in the NSCAA regional rankings last Monday at No. 10 -- defeated Eastern (6-6-1, 4-1-0 LEC) for the first time ever after 16 losses and two ties. The Beacons were winless (0-6-1) in conference play five years ago but had battled an undefeated Eastern team to a 1-1 overtime draw in the LEC playoffs two years ago, advancing past the Warriors on penalty kicks.
Eastern, which has lost two straight for the first time this year, drops into a two-way tie for second place in the conference with Massachusetts Dartmouth, a team which it will visit on the final day of the regular season in two weeks.
Senior keeper Mackenzie MacLeod (Northfield) made nine save for Eastern UMass got five saves from Kristen Spain, who recorded her sixth shutout in 13 starts.
Ledin and teammate Tayla Andrews – ranked 1-2 in the conference in scoring – evenly split 14 of their team's shot, putting seven on net. Andrews was held scoreless, although her give-and-go pass set up Ledin's goal, which was partially deflected by MacLeod.
The top two finishers in the LEC regular-season standings are awarded first-round byes in the six-team playoffs which get underway with first-round matches Oct. 30.
Eastern visits Trinity College in a non-conference match Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
