Women’s Soccer Wraps Up Season in 1–0 Playoff Setback to Springfield

Senior Elizabeth Monsen’s goal in the third minute put the game away and guided Springfield to a 1–0 win over the Emerson College women’s soccer team in the quarterfinal round of the NEWMAC tournament at Brock-Affleck Field in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, November 1.

The loss put Emerson’s overall record at 10–10 to wrap up the 2016 season, while Springfield College improves to 11–4–3 overall.

Emerson keeper Melanie Escobar ’17 (Torrington, CT) was tagged with the loss and made eight saves through 90 minutes. Springfield junior goalie Ciara Boucher stopped all nine shots that came her way in the win for the Pride.

Veronica Alberts ’20 (Half Moon Bay, CA), Jess Frost ’19 (Palos Verdes, CA), and Alexandra Levin ’18 (Glen Ellyn, IL) each tallied three shots apiece for Emerson. Monsen paced Springfield with one goal and three shots, while junior Kim Quiles registered four shots.

A costly foul committed by Emerson just three minutes into the start of the first half allowed Springfield to capitalize and get on the board. Monsen’s penalty kick slipped past the reach of Escobar and made its way into the net to put the Pride up, 1–0. Emerson sent six shots toward Boucher through the first, but none found the back of the goal.

The Lions fired three straight shots from Chiara Bernardi ’20 (Santa Barbara, CA) and Mindy Labayen ’17 (El Segundo, CA) through the first three minutes of the second half, but Boucher blocked all three to preserve the 1–0 lead. Springfield nearly gave themselves an insurance goal in the 88th minute on their second penalty kick opportunity, but Monsen’s shot was stopped by Escobar and the Pride held on for the win.