BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Amanda Weinberger's (Colchester, Conn.) goal early in the first half held up as the game's lone marker and classmate Nicole Leahey (Warwick, R.I.) made four saves in her second consecutive shutout as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team defeated Western New England, 1-0, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action on Sweeney Field.
Winners of two straight the Leopards improve to 7-6-2 overall and 2-3-1 in CCC play while the Golden Bears dropped their third straight to stand at 5-8-3 (2-3-1).
The Golden Bears had a chance to take an early lead when senior Taylor Mazurski (Wolcott, Conn.) served a corner kick that junior Erica Parlavecchio (Florham Park, N.J.) received and fired a shot that hit the crossbar. Nearly four minutes later Wentworth had a similar chance when sophomore Mary Annon (Concord, N.H.) sent a corner kick to the box where junior Valeria Zapata (Pawtucket, R.I.) put a shot on net that junior Briana Kubik (Blanford, Mass.) stopped.
Weinberger's seventh goal of the season came when she and senior Olivia Moore (Salem, Conn.) went in on a run. Moore slid a pass to Weinberger in the box and her shot beat Kubik at 11:42.
Both teams had chances throughout the first half, however the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Leopards at the break. Wentworth held a 12-6 shot advantage through the first 45 minutes of action.
More had a chance in the 67th minute to make it a 2-0 game when she one-timed a shot that Kubik made a diving stop on. In the 73rd minute, Western New England nearly tied it when junior Emma Norden (Belchertown, Mass.) went in alone down the left side, however would hit the post. Norden again had a chance in the 83rd minute, however a Leahey stop kept it a one-goal game.
Three of Leahey's four saves came in the first half while Kubik made 12 stops. Wentworth held a 21-9 shot advantage and a 7-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Both teams continue CCC play on Wednesday as the Leopards are at Roger Williams and the Golden Bears are at Nichols.
