NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A pair of first-half goals netted by Erina Ismaili (Middlebury, Conn.) and Sophia Vescera (Prospect, Conn.) propelled the Albertus Magnus College women's soccer team to open Great Northeast Athletic Conference action with a 3-1 triumph over the visiting Anna Maria College Amcats at Celetano Field on Saturday.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 3 | Anna Maria 1
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus 2-0-1, 1-0-0 | Anna Maria 0-3-0, 0-1-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
Off an Anna Maria corner kick delivered by Olivia Vale da Serra, Ariana Izzo (West Haven, Conn.) managed to deflect a close shot on net in a defensive save to help keep the visitors off the board in the first half of play.
Tyler Stocking (Middletown, Conn.) darted down the left side of the field toward the goal before sending the rock across the goalie's box to an approaching Ismaili as the senior chipped in the ball just past the goalkeeper's gloves at the 13-minute mark. Less than two minutes later, the Falcons tallied another goal off a long cross-shot from the right side of the goal by Vescera with another helper by Stocking.
After a saved Ejalam Bravo (New Britain, Conn. ) shot by goalkeeper Kortney Clark, Amcat Valentina Villa collected a defensive save as Julia Tsakonas (West Haven, Conn.) narrowly connected with the nylon at the 16-minute mark. Albertus continued to push aggressively in the second half as Evie Tyrrell (Vernon, Conn.) stole the ball from an Anna Maria defender before sending it to Sydney Cook (Oakdale, Conn.) for the hosts' third goal of the matchup at the 72-minute mark, as the Falcons led 3-0.
Vale da Serra found herself in another Amcat corner kick attempt followed by a goal by Anetta DelPrado, who outfought the scrum in front of the net to put Anna Maria on the board at 77:21. Six minutes later, Vescera almost delivered another goal as the ball doinked off the post followed by two off-the-mark shots and a pair of saved shots by Tsakonas and Katherine Aviles (Norwalk, Conn.) across the last seven minutes of action.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus
Amy Stevens (W, 2-0-1) 2 Shots | 1 Saves | 1 Goal Allowed
Anna Maria
Kortney Clark (L, 0-3-0) 14 Shots | 11 Saves | 3 Goals Allowed
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- SHOTS: Albertus 31 | Anna Maria 3
- CORNER KICKS: Albertus 5 | Anna Maria 3
- SAVES: Anna Maria 12 | Albertus 2
- FOULS: Albertus 5 | Anna Maria 5
NOTEWORTHY
- Amy Stevens (Lincoln, R.I.) is now tied for fourth in all-time career saves with 227.
- Albertus Magnus now leads the all-time matchup 12-1-2.
UP NEXT
The Falcons travel to their first road matchup at GNAC opponent Colby-Sawyer on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. contest.
