Soccer Ends Regular Season with Loss to #1 Springfield

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The visiting Springfield College soccer team posted a 2-0 shutout over Wellesley College on Saturday afternoon in the NEWMAC regular-season finale for both teams. The win clinches the 2012 NEWMAC regular season title for the Pride (12-4-1, 8-1 NEWMAC), while Wellesley (7-10-1, 4-5 NEWMAC) will enter the NEWMAC Tournament as the six seed.

Springfield's defense held Wellesley to just four shots, all coming in the second half. At the other end of the field, the Pride offense did its job, piling on 18 shots, while picking up goals in the 60th and 72nd minutes to earn the win.

The visitors outshot the Blue 7-0 in the first half. Wellesley did retain possession for a good portion of the period, but were denied by the Pride's tight back line. Neither team was able to break onto the scoreboard, sending the game into the break at 0-0.

Springfield opened the second half on the offensive, recording four straight attempts, three of which were denied by Wellesley keeper, Claire Cerda. The fifth Pride shot, however, was the one that broke through. Nina Vital launched a high shot from about 10 yards out, which found its way through the gloves of Cerda, giving Springfield a 1-0 lead in the 60th minute. Vital's goal was her team-leading 10th of the season.

After four more saves from Wellesley's Cerda, Springfield found the back of the net again in the 72nd minute. Nicole Fowler threaded the defense, sweeping up the right side of the field and knocked a point blank shot into the goal for her fifth score of the season.

Wellesley's best chance to score came in the 89th minute when Juliette Fry laced a ball from the left side of the field that looked to be headed toward the right side of the net. However, Springfield's Erin Greenstein made a diving save to preserve the shutout victory for the Pride.

For Wellesley, Cerda finished with a season-high 10 saves, suffering the loss. Springfield's Greenstein ended the contest with three stops, picking her eighth shutout of the season. 

Wellesley is back in action on Tuesday, heading to #3 Wheaton for the quarterfinal round of the NEWMAC Tournament. Springfield receives a first-round bye and will host the semifinal and final rounds of the tournament next weekend.