Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- First-year Kristin Dechene (Nashua, N.H.) scored the only goal of the match in the 73rd minute, giving the University of New England women's soccer team a 1-0 win over Western New England University in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener Saturday afternoon (Sep. 15) at Suprenant Field.

Dechene's marker was set-up by sophomore Margaret Palmer (Scarborough, Maine), who found the rookie on a break with a long pass. Dechene worked past two defenders before putting a shot into the upper right corner, bringing her total to four goals in the last three games.

UNE (3-4, 1-0 CCC) survived the best scoring chance from the Golden Bears in the 80th minute, as junior goalkeeper Gina Iannazzi (Methuen, Mass.) made a driving stop on a bending shot from WNE first-year Rachel Suntag. Iannazzi finished with seven saves for her second shutout of the year.

The Nor'easters ended the match on top in shots, 14-9, but down in corners, 7-1.

Big Blue is now off until Wednesday (4:30 p.m.) when it visits Wellesley College for a non-conference game.

First-year goalie Briana Kubik turned aside five shots for Western New England (3-4-1, 0-1 CCC), which will look to end its four-game skid on Tuesday at Mount Holyoke College.