BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman midfielder Karina Scavo (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) scored the lone goal of the game, which came with 12:11 remaining in regulation, and senior keeper Leigh Engel (Richmondville, N.Y..) stopped four shots as the University of New England women's soccer team won its eighth straight game with a 1-0 win over Wentworth in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Sweeney Field.
The first half saw both teams struggle to get scoring chances, as play was back and forth for the majority of the half. Wentworth held a slim, 7-6 shot advantage at the break, which included a pair of shots in goal in the final five minutes.
The Nor'Easters opened the second half by quickly gaining momentum and put two shots on net in a short span of time. UNE would have a chance to go break the stalemate in the 76th minute, but a shot by senior midfielder Ali Trafton (Manchester, Maine) hit the far post. Just over two minutes after that scoring attempt failed, Scavo controlled a ball that was misplayed by a defender and put home a shot to the left side of an open net.
Wentworth had a chance to tie the game in the 85th minute but freshman Elizabeth Somma's (Windham, Maine) attempt ricocheted off of the crossbar and the attempt off the rebound went wide.
Engel made three saves in the first half and just one in the second as she improved to 11-1 on the year. Freshman Jess Gardner (Wilbraham, Mass.) made seven saves for the Leopards. The goal she allowed ended her personal shutout streak of 458:15, dating back to Sept. 21. The Nor'Easters used a 15-6 second half shot advantage outshoot the hosts 21-13 for the game.
UNE improves to 12-1 overall and 9-1 in conference play. The Nor'Easters host Roger Williams Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Wentworth sees its two-game win streak snapped and falls to 5-10 overall and 4-6 in conference play. The Leopards are at Colby-Sawyer Monday at 3:30 p.m.
