Soccer Team to Play for ECAC Title

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –Sara Barnick scored early in the second half to break a 1-all tie as the top-seeded University of Saint Joseph soccer team defeated No. 5 Colby-Sawyer, 2-1 Saturday in an ECAC New England tournament semifinal game at Saint Joseph.

Saint Joseph will host No. 3 Endicott in Sunday's championship game. Endicott defeated No. 2 Keene State, 3-1 in Saturday's other semifinal. Saint Joseph will be playing in its first-ever post-season championship game. The Blue Jays (16-2-2) also added to their single-season school record for wins in a season.

"It wasn't pretty, but we did a good job of grinding it out and getting the goals we needed," USJ coach Chris LeGates said. "We started bright in the second half and in the first 15 minutes, we put them on their heels. Sara gave us the lead we needed and we did a great job of defending countless waves of attacks. To be playing in a championship game in a testament to a group of women that are the epitome of what a team means to me."

Colby Sawyer (15-4-4) got on the board first, 11:28 into the game. Sophomore forward Laurel Bauer (Bradford, N.H.) redirected a shot in the goalmouth to stake the Chargers to a 1-0 lead. The Blue Jays would answer just 1:02 later. Junior forward Tiana Saraceno (Plainville, Conn.) turned on a loose ball in the box and put it in the lower left corner of the goal and teams went to intermission even at 1.

The Blue Jays got the final goal of the game just 3:18 into the second half. Patricia Nolan (Portland, Conn.) controlled a ball at the top of the box and delivered a short pass to a streaking Barnick on the left side who converted for her ninth goal of the season.

Saint Joseph outshot Colby Sawyer, 20-11 and took all five of the corner kicks in the game. Shay Spencer (Natick, Mass.) made eight saves for Colby Sawyer and Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.) made five stops for USJ.