Soccer Succeeds in Snow Job

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Katie Mirabella (Seymour, Conn.) had a goal and an assist as the top-seeded University of Saint Joseph soccer team defeated No. 8 Regis College 3-0 Wednesday in an ECAC quarterfinal game played in heavy winds and driving snow.

Saint Joseph advanced to an ECAC semifinal Saturday at 11 a.m. against an opponent to be determined. As the top seed, the Blue Jays will host a semifinal doubleheader beginning with their game Saturday and Sunday's championship game.

With Wednesday's win, USJ improved to 15-2-2 and broke the school record for most wins in a season, set in 2008 and matched in 2010.

"What a weird weather day, but I'm so proud of this group to set the record for wins," Saint Joseph coach Chris LeGates said. "It's some consolation for the difficult [GNAC tournament] loss to Simmons. [Assistant coach] Jess [Gildea] and I thought this was a special group right from the beginning of pre-season. To see them make history is special and hopefully the rest of this tournament enables them to add to their legacy."

Tactics and finesse were cast to the background Wednesday as conditions rewarded essentially nothing but perseverance. Playing with the wind and snow in their faces, the Blue Jays generated the first goal 18:36 into the contest. Mirabella took a cross from Sara Barnick (Watertown, Conn.) and finished for her ninth goal of the season.

Despite getting the worst of the conditions in the first half, Saint Joseph outshot Regis, 8-2 and took the 1-0 lead into intermission.

Patricia Nolan (Portland, Conn.) scored her team-leading 14th goal off a feed from Mirabella 9:27 into the second half to stake Saint Joseph to a 2-0 lead. Nolan made a run through the middle of the box and deposited the ball in the lower left corner from eight yards.

Nicole Mendelson (Southbury, Conn.) concluded the scoring when her corner kick went off the far post and in for her third goal of the season with 19:21 to play. Saint Joseph outshot Regis 12-0 in the second half and 20-2 for the game. The Blue Jays also took more corner kicks, 5-4.

Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.) and Tara Kowalski (Colchester, Conn.) combined for the shutout with Dodge making two saves in 84 minutes. Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.) made six saves for Regis.