Women's Soccer Garners ECAC Bid

DANBURY, Conn. – For the first time since the 2005 season and fifth time in program history the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team will be competing in the ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Tournament.

The sixth-seeded Leopards (9-8-4) will travel to third-seeded Westfield State (12-5-2) for a quarterfinal contest at 2:30 p.m. Other quarterfinal match-ups feature top-seeded Wheaton (14-7-2) hosting eighth-seeded Johnson & Wales (10-10-2) at 1:30 p.m., while second-seeded University of New England (11-4-2) hosts seventh-seeded Emmanuel (13-10-0) at 2:00 p.m. Fourth-seeded Framingham State (12-7-0) will play host to fifth-seeded Eastern Nazarene (9-9-2) at 7:00 p.m.

Winners of the four quarterfinal contests will advance to the semifinals, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seed on Saturday and the championship match will be played on Sunday at Saturday's site.

Seeded seventh in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament, Wentworth has had an impressive run, posting a 1-0-2 record against higher seeded teams, en route to its first CCC title game appearance since the 2003 season. The Leopards upset second-seeded Endicott, 4-2, in the quarterfinal round before recording consecutive, 1-1 draws against third-seeded Eastern Nazarene in the semifinals and top-seeded Roger Williams in the finals. In the semifinals, Wentworth edged the Lions, 5-4, in penalty kicks, while Roger Williams claimed the CCC Championship with a 4-1 penalty kick win in the championship game.

The Leopards enter the ECAC Tournament averaging 2.00 goals per game while allowing 29 in 21 contests (1.38 per game; 1.32 goals against average). Junior Valeria Zapata (Pawtucket, R.I.) and sophomore Amanda Weinberger (Colchester, Conn.) lead the team in scoring with 20 points apiece as Zapata has nine goals and two assists and Weinberger has seven goals and six assists. Senior Olivia Moore (Salem, Conn.), whose penalty kick against Eastern Nazarene sent Wentworth to the finals, has 17 points on seven goals and three assists while senior Tori Armishaw (Scarborough, Maine) has 12 points (five goals, two assists). Freshman Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.), who has been named the CCC Rookie of the Week the last two weeks, rounds out Wentworth's top five scorers with nine points (two goals, five assists). Moore and Zapata were named Honorable Mention All-CCC.

Sophomores Morgan Miller (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Mary Pastorelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.) both earned spots on the CCC All-Conference Team as second team honorees for their stellar defensive play as they have helped the Leopards allow 12 fewer goals than a season ago and post six shutouts. Pastorelli also has a goal and an assist while Miller has a goal. In goal, senior Nicole Leahey (Warwick, R.I.) and Beverly Farris (Palmer, Mass.) have split time with Leahey posting a 5-4-1 record with a 1.23 goals against average while Farris is 4-4-3 with a 1.42 goals against average. Both keepers have a pair of solo shutouts and have combined on a pair of shutouts.

Westfield State finished second in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference and advanced to the MASCAC title game before falling, 1-0, to top-seeded Worcester State. The Owls are averaging 3.00 goals per game while allowing 28 in 19 games (1.47 per game; 1.44 goals against average). Five members of the Owls earned All-MASCAC honors as senior midfielders Sarah Sypek (Westhampton, Mass.) and Ashleigh Chretien (North Attleboro, Mass.) as well as junior defender Katy Knight (Woburn, Mass.) were selected for the first team and senior forward Amanda Grant (Westfield, Mass.) and senior defender Ali Blanchette (Palmer, Mass.) were selected to the second team.

Sypek leads Westfield State in scoring, recording 47 points (20 goals, seven assists) while Grant has 40 points (15 goals, 10 assists) and Chretien has 23 points (seven goals, nine assists).In goal, sophomore Anne Stack (East Longmeadow, Mass.) is 12-5-2 with a 1.52 goals against average and six shutouts.

Wednesday marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools and this season they have two common opponents in Western New England and Framingham State. The Leopards defeated the Golden Bears, 1-0, and the Rams, 4-0, while the Owls defeated Western New England, 5-1, and Framingham State, 3-2 and 4-0.

All-time in ECAC Tournament play Wentworth is 0-4, suffering quarterfinal losses in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Two of those losses (2002, 2005) were by single goals.

2014 ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Tournament
First Round – Wednesday, November 12
No. 8 Johnson & Wales (10-10-2) at No. 1 Wheaton (14-7-2), 1:30 p.m.
No. 7 Emmanuel (13-10-0) at No. 2 University of New England (11-4-2), 2:00 p.m.
No. 6 Wentworth (9-8-4) at No. 3 Westfield State (12-5-2), 2:30 p.m.
No. 5 Eastern Nazarene (9-9-2) at No. 4 Framingham State (12-7-0), 7:00 p.m.
 
Semifinals – Saturday, November 15 at Highest Remaining Seed
No. 1 Wheaton/No. 8 Johnson & Wales winner vs. No. 4 Framingham/No. 5 Eastern Nazarene winner, TBD
No. 2 University of New England/No. 7 Emmanuel winner vs. No. 3 Westfield/No. 6 Wentworth winner, TBD
 
Championship – Sunday, November 16 at Highest Remaining Seed
Two Semifinal Winners, TBD