Binghamton edges UVM; Ravens lose title game
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Staff Reports - Published: October 25, 2009
BURLINGTON – Binghamton's Matt Kristek scored with 21 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Bearcats to a 2-1 victory over Vermont in Saturday's men's college soccer action at Centennial Field.
Binghamton clinched a spot in the America East tournament with the victory and improves to 8-6-1 overall and 3-2-0 in league play.
Vermont is still in the hunt for the final playoff seed and will host Boston University in the final regular-season match on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Centennial Field. The Catamounts fall to 1-9-5 overall and 1-3-2 in America East play.
The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute when Liam Carson scored on a rebound of Scott Zobre's initial shot. Vermont came out of halftime with energy and pressured the Bearcats from the opening whistle of the second half. Kyle Luetkehans' first goal of the season evened the score in the 66th minute. Patrick Alonis fed Matt Hennessey on a throw-in and Hennessey was able to get to the end line and sent a quick, short cross into the box. Luetkehans headed the cross past Binghamton goalkeeper Jason Stenta, tying the score at 1.
Vermont created a flurry of pressure and scoring chances in the closing minutes, but Binghamton seized a counterattack opportunity and both Kristek and teammate Scott Zobre found themselves in a 2-on-1 breakaway. Zobre fed a long ball from the left side to Kristek, who was able to collect it and slot a low, hard shot past the outstretched arms of Vermont goalkeeper Tom Critz.
Critz finished the game with four saves for Vermont, while Stenta was credited with three stops for the Bearcats.
MEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER
Lyndon 3, Green Mountain 0
LYNDON CENTER – Patrice Lumumba had two goals and an assist to lead Lyndon.
Lyndon State ends its season with an overall record of 4-10-3 and a 1-5-1 mark in the NAC. Green Mountain ends with records of 0-13-1 and 0-7.
WOMEN'S COLLEGE
SOCCER
Norwich 3, Rivier 0
NORTHFIELD – The Norwich University women's soccer team used three first-half goals to get past Rivier College, 3-0, in Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference game at a rainy Howard Field.
Freshman forward Brittany Casey, junior midfielder Sarah Reuschel and junior forward Nikki Szczepanski scored for the Cadets, who improve to 8-8-1 overall and 5-6-1 in the GNAC. The Raiders drop to 4-10-2 overall and 1-8-2 in the GNAC.
Norwich opened the scoring 2:25 into the first half when Casey found the back of the net on a chip shot into the right corner. The freshman forward, who leads the Cadets with eight goals, took the shot after gathering a loose ball at the top of the box.
Reuschel added to the lead in the 19th minute when she stole the ball at the top of the Raiders' box and ripped a low shot past Rivier goalie Brittany Puleo for her third goal of the season. The Cadets capped the scoring less than three minutes later when Szczepanski netted her seventh goal of the season.
Norwich held a commanding 17-7 advantage in shots, while Rivier held a slight 6-5 edge in corners.
Junior goalie Alecia Wright was solid for the Cadets, turning away two shots to earn her second shutout of the season. Puleo made eight saves for the Raiders.
Norwich will close out its regular season on Wednesday when the Cadets host non-league foe Plattsburgh State at 3 p.m.
Green Mountain 1, Lyndon 0
LYNDON CENTER – Bryanna Astor scored the game-winning goal with 39 second remaining to lift Green Mountain to a North Atlantic Conference victory.
In the waning seconds of the game, the Eagles' Emma Lord lofted a cross toward the Lyndon goal that was mishandled by Hornet goalkeeper Natalia Shams. Astor managed to punch home the miscue and sent GMC on to its sixth victory of the season.
Green Mountain keeper Karen Davidson saved nine shots as Green Mountain improved to 6-8-1.
WOMEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY
Princeton 7, Vermont 2
BURLINGTON – Princeton University defeated the Vermont Catamounts 7-2 in Saturday's women's college hockey game at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The Tigers (1-1-0) came out of the locker room with a flurry of pressure, outshooting the Catamounts (4-2-0) 16-3 in the first period and 35-9 for the game.
However, Vermont struck first on a power-play goal 15:30 into the first period. Sophomore Kailey Nash gave UVM the 1-0 lead after freshman Emily Walsh was able to bring the puck down the right side of the ice before sending a cross-ice pass in front of the goal. Nash quickly fired the puck past Princeton's Rachel Weber for her fifth goal of the season.
Princeton equalized less than three minutes later with its own power-play goal. Danielle DiCesare beat Kristen Olychuck stick-side for her second goal of the season.
The second period was a reversal of fortune for Vermont. In its previous two games – a 4-1 win over No. 4 Clarkson and a 4-3 win over Princeton – Vermont outscored its opponents 6-0 in the second period. On Saturday, however, Princeton used its own three-goal period to take control of the game. Heather Landry, Kelly Cooke and DiCesare all found the back of the net for the Tigers.
Senior co-captain Brittany Nelson of Shelburne cut the Princeton lead to 4-2 when she recorded her third goal of the season with 1:30 remaining in the second period. Nelson was able to rebound a Maggie Walsh shot for Vermont's second power-play goal of the game.
The Tigers were then able to take advantage of two more power-play goals in a span of two minutes in the third period to extend the lead to 6-2.
Olychuck made 28 saves for UVM, which will host a two-game weekend series against Northeastern next weekend. Friday's game is set for 7 p.m. and Saturday's game will start at 4 p.m.
NEW ENGLAND
FOOTBALL LEAGUE
New Hampshire Wolfpack 21, Vermont Ravens 0
CONCORD, N.H. – The New Hampshire Wolfpack opened up an early lead and never looked back en route to winning Saturday's New England Football League championship with a 21-0 victory over the Vermont Ravens.
Quarterback Jim Sanford had one touchdown pass for the Wolfpack, who opened up a 14-0 halftime lead. The Ravens created their best scoring chance in the fourth quarter, but Vermont was thwarted by a turnover in the red zone.
"In the fourth quarter Steve Noyes made a 57-yard reception from Sean O'Connor, and on the very next play Corey Matthews got a screen pass for 18 yards to get us down to the 4-yard line," Ravens assistant coach Mike Salmon said. "But they forced a fumble after that, and that was our only big scoring chance today."
Matthews finished with 60 rushing yards on 10 carries for the Ravens, while O'Connor went 3-for-8 for 98 yards.
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