CANTON, N.Y. – Despite 11 saves from senior goalkeeper Christie Fleming (Braintree, Mass.), the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to St. Lawrence University on Friday afternoon. The Leopards drop to 0-1, while the Saints start the 2018 season at 1-0.
The Saints generated quite a bit of offense in the season opener, owning a 29-3 advantage in shots against the Leopards, including a 13-1 margin in shots on target. In the 20th minute, SLU junior Emily Wade (Rochester, N.Y.) took a promising bid from 20-yards out, but an outstretched Fleming kept the game scoreless for the time being. After Fleming saved the Saints' initial two shots to frame, sophomore Katie Clemmer (Yarmouth, Maine) finished on a pass from classmate Tori Daley (Waddington, N.Y.) to break open the scoring on a top-shelf goal in the 25th minute.
The Leopards opened the second half with their first scoring opportunity of the game, as freshman Neva DiBlasi (Salem, N.Y.) sent a hard-driven shot to frame from just outside the 18-yard-box. Sophomore reliever Cynnie White (Northport, Mich.) was there to make the save for the Saints, before Wentworth senior Grace McGrath (Warwick, R.I.) lined up for a corner in the 50th minute. Off the cross, senior Taylor Patti's (Pittsfield, Mass.) attempt to get the Leopards on the board soared just high to keep the game at 1-0 until the final whistle blew.
Fleming made seven saves in the second half for 11 stops overall, and drops to 0-1 on the season, while junior Samantha Allen (Ringwood, N.J.) earned the win in between the pipes for St. Lawrence with one save in first-half action.
The Leopards head to Clarkson University tomorrow for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff before returning home to Boston for a 7:00 p.m. game on Tuesday at Emmanuel.
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