LEICESTER, Mass. – A pair of first half goals by sophomores Mariposa Nash-Gibney (Burlington, Vt.) and Hannah Trottier (Douglas, Mass.) was all the offense Becker needed as they are advancing to the New England Collegiate Conference Semifinals with a 2-1 win over the Eastern Nazarene Lions on Saturday night at Alumni Field.
THE BASICS
November 2, 2019
Alumni Field
Score: Becker 2 – Eastern Nazarene 1
Records: The Becker College Hawks 12-7-2 | The Eastern Nazarene College Lions 3-12-1
GAME SUMMARY
The Hawks broke the ice early with Nash-Gibney notching her first goal of the playoffs.
Becker sophomore Kristen Beidleman (Holliston, Mass.) initiated the play in the Hawks attacking third, sliding a pass in the middle to senior Kyra Teixeira (Old Lyme, Conn.).
Teixeira redirected that pass into the path of Nash-Gibney, who touched the ball in behind the Lions defense and fired a shot from 20 yards away that was nearly saved by the outstretched right hand of Lions senior goalie Griselda Minchaca (Whittier, Calif.), but Nash-Gibney's shot had enough power to break through Minchaca, giving the Hawks an early 1-0 lead.
Becker doubled the lead in the 16th minute on the first goal of the season and playoffs by Trottier.
In a display of individual skill, Trottier gathered a loose ball near the right side of the penalty area. After creating some space, Trottier's shot went over the head of Minchaca and into the far side netting, giving Becker a 2-0 lead.
The Lions struck back just seconds later, officially in the 17th minute on a goal by junior Sam Bernardi (Longmeadow, Mass.).
Shortly after the kickoff that made the game 2-0, the Lions charged down the field and into the Hawks penalty area. Junior Diamond Best (Danvers, Mass.) slid a pass to Bernardi near the penalty spot.
Bernardi controlled the pass with one touch and fired a shot that Hawks freshman Olivia Sherwood (Southington, Conn.) got a hand on, but the near parry went off the post and in, cutting the Lions deficit to 2-1.
The Hawks created plenty of pressure in the second half, outshooting the Lions 12-3, but it was a defensive play by Hawks sophomore Rebecca Beringer (Waterville, Maine) that proved as a vital intervention in the 59th minute.
Bernardi claimed a loose ball at midfield and a series of 50-50 challenges allowed her to push past two defenders.
The play created a near breakaway for Bernardi as she broke for goal but Beringer made a recovering run from Bernardi's right side and cleared the ball away just 25 yards away from the Hawks goal, keeping Becker ahead 2-1.
FOR THE HAWKS
- Teixeira finished with a game-high nine shots for the Hawks.
- Trottier's goal is her first as a member of the Hawks.
- Sherwood improves to 8-6-2 following the win.
FOR THE LIONS
- Bernardi's tally was her fourth of the season.
- Minchaca made nine saves for Eastern Nazarene but falls to 3-12-1 after the loss.
UP NEXT
The Hawks advance to the NECC Semifinals and have a date with the No. 1 seeded Lesley University Lynx on Wednesday, November 6. The time and location have yet to be announced. For the Lions, their season comes to a close at 3-12-1.