Two Late Strikes Lead Women's Soccer to Win over Salve Regina
Lancer sophomore Talia Borci (Leicester, Mass.) scored two goals in a span of 5:08 in the waning minutes of the second half, leading the Worcester State University women’s soccer team to a 2-0 win over Salve Regina in non-conference action Thursday evening at Coughlin Field.
WORCESTER, Mass. - Lancer sophomore Talia Borci (Leicester, Mass.) scored two goals in a span of 5:08 in the waning minutes of the second half, leading the Worcester State University women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Salve Regina in non-conference action Thursday evening at Coughlin Field.
The win is the first of the season for the Lancers, who improve to 1-2-0 on the season with the victory. The Seahawks drop to 1-1-0.
The Lancers held the territorial edge for the majority of the contest, but strong goaltending from Salve Regina senior Carly Pala (Milford, Conn.) kept the hosts off the board for the majority of the evening. The Lancers outshot the Seahawks 13-4 in the opening 45 minutes, but the teams went into the break in a scoreless deadlock.
Borci finally broke the ice for Worcester State in the 72nd minute when she netted her second goal of the season. Sophomore Ali Maldonado (Rutland, Mass.) played a long ball over the top from the midfield, and Borci was able to gather the ball while eluding the final Seahawk defender. In one-on-one on Pala, Borci smoothly slid the ball into the bottom corner of the net to put the Lancers on the board.
Borci would then add the insurance marker just over five minutes later to put the game out of reach for Salve Regina. The sophomore took a ground cross from the right off the foot of Maddie Fong (Norton, Mass.) and directed it toward goal. The shot took a deflection off of a Seahawk defender, freezing Pala and trickling into the net to give Worcester State a commanding 2-0 lead in the 77th minute.
Worcester sophomore goalkeeper Jill Zinkus (Grafton, Mass.) held the fort the rest of the way, earning her first win and first shutout of the season, making four saves. Pala recorded the loss despite a strong seven save performance.
Next up for the Lancers, they will take to the road for the first time this season, heading to Clark for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Saturday. Salve Regina will look to return to the win column the same day with a home match against Rhode Island College slated for 12 p.m.