BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Tayllar Righini (Salem, N.H.) tallied a goal and an assist and junior Allie Altman (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) made five saves as the Emerson College women's soccer team kicked off the 2013 season with a 2-0 win over Wentworth in a non-conference contest at Sweeney Field.
Wentworth began the game applying pressure, including putting a shot on goal just 35 seconds into the contest and have a shot sail wide off a corner kick less than two minutes later. However, the Lions capitalized on a Leopard turnover just outside the 18-yard box and Righini fired a shot past sophomore keeper Miranda Stuckey (Lafayette, Ind.) at the 13:28 mark.
The Leopards had chances to tie the game throughout the remainder of the first half, including just missing on an open net chance in the 29th minute of play.
Both teams had chances to score in the early part of the second half, including when a header by junior Olivia Moore (Salem, Conn.) was tipped away by Altman with 25:00 to play. Less than four minutes later Emerson had two chances to go ahead 2-0 when Righini took a shot that was saved by Stuckey and then Stuckey covered up freshman Natalie Benjamin's (Tewksbury, Mass.) rebound attempt.
Wentworth again applied pressure and had four shot attempts – including one that hit the crossbar – but could not get the equalizer. With 4:08 left Righini fed a pass to Benjamin, who buried a shot to the lower left to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
Stuckey finished with 10 saves for the Leopards, who held a 22-21 shot advantage for the evening, while the Lions had a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Emerson (1-0) hosts Lesley on Saturday. That same day, Wentworth (0-2) is at New England College.
