In its final non-conference match of the season, the Stony Brook women’s soccer team relied on a late winner to secure its third consecutive victory.
On the road in Durham, N.H., the Seawolves (5-2-1) faced the New Hampshire Wildcats (5-2-1) on Sunday afternoon. In a tight match, Stony Brook’s defense dug deep while its offense came up clutch in a 1-0 win.
After nearly 80 minutes of scoreless action, the stalemate between the sides broke in the 78th minute, as the Seawolves found a breakthrough off a set piece. Defender Aneta Sováková perfectly sailed a cross to the back post — over a large crowd of players — into the waiting right foot of midfielder Kristina Garcia. All in one motion, Garcia leapt and volleyed the ball. Aided by a deflection from New Hampshire defender Maddie Kolb, Garcia tallied her first collegiate goal to give Stony Brook the advantage.
Garcia’s heroics were enough to lift the team past the Wildcats, as both attacks struggled to create chances on Sunday.
New Hampshire’s best goalscoring opportunity came in the fourth minute. While the Seawolves attempted to play from the back, a poor touch by defender Kerry Pearson setup New Hampshire forward Delaney Lappin for a one-on-one against goalkeeper Nicolette Pasquarella. As Lappin loaded up for a shot, Pasquarella rushed out the net and smothered Lappin’s attempt to keep things scoreless.
Pasquarella came up big again early into the second half. In the 54th minute, New Hampshire forward Meghan Guarente fired a low-driven shot into the bottom left corner, which forced Pasquarella to make a diving, one-handed stop.
“I’m proud of the team,” head coach Tobias Bischof said in a postgame interview with Stony Brook Athletics. “The girls were challenged with the three games in seven days, two of them away, but they got it done. Three wins, three shutouts, and 10 goals scored isn’t easy, [New Hampshire] is a physical team with some very good players, but we handled it well. Now we are going to recover and get ready for conference play.”
Stony Brook narrowly outperformed the Wildcats offensively, as it attempted 12 shots to New Hampshire’s 11 shots. Each team landed four shots on goal.
Pasquarella made four saves. Over the past three games, she has stopped eight shots and conceded no goals. New Hampshire goalkeeper Sally Rainey finished with three saves.
For its Coastal Athletic Association opener, the Seawolves will return to Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Sunday to host the Charleston Cougars, who are hot to begin the year with a 7-1-1 record. The Cougars will make their conference debut on Thursday against Hofstra. Opening kickoff for the Sunday’s contest is scheduled for noon.
