By Hayden Choate
@ChoateHayden
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College women’s soccer team defeated Cabrini 1-0 at Brock-Affleck field to advance to the next round in the ECAC tournament. Springfield will now play Sunday in the ECAC quarterfinal against the winner of the second game of the first round between Farleigh-Dickinson and Rutgers-Newark.
The game saw its only goal in the first half four minutes into the game when Kaleigh Dale made a great play to the right side of the field then feeding Mackenzie Luiz with a great pass. Luiz fired the shot low to the right side of the goal beating Cabrini goalkeeper Ashley Tutzauer. Cabrini, who was in the end shut out had their best chance of the game just 30 seconds into the game.
The Cavaliers made a play with speed catching the Springfield defense off guard, a pass was made and a Cabrini forward was alone with the ball a few feet away from Springfield goalkeeper Caitlin Normoyle. The ball was shot but way off to the left of the goal keeping the score even at the time.
“I thought they created a lot of chances, went right from the kickoff, that was a great move,” Springfield College head women’s soccer coach John Gibson said.
Mainly at the end of the first half but for the majority of the game, Springfield dominated possession not only in the attacking half but all over the field.
“That’s what we’re supposed to do when we play, we did some of that at MIT last week, that’s us at our best,” Gibson said.
The Pride used a lot of their depth throughout the game which began with every senior on the team and graduate student Kellie Gambell. This is included Shannon Anfuso who has battled injuries her whole college career.
“We started every senior that we had, which was a nice thing to be able to do and they played well and they scored,” Gibson said.
Cabrini who won the Atlantic East conference with a 2-0 win over Marywood University last Saturday did not have as much time off as the Pride did. The Atlantic East is a new conference which means the champion does not get an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
Springfield who lost in the NEWMAC semifinals to MIT 3-0 on November 7th had nine days off before Saturday’s first round game will now play back-to-back with the ECAC quarterfinals set for tomorrow afternoon.
Featured photo courtesy Jack Margaros