Western Connecticut Pulls Away for 6-1 Win Over Salem State

SALEM, MASS. – Western Connecticut's Kimberly Brower (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Morgan Matthews (Bethel, Conn.) scored two goals apiece as the Colonials earned a 6-1 Little East Conference win over Salem State on "Think Pink" day at Alumni Field. Western Connecticut goes to 9-6 and 7-3 in conference while the Vikings stumble to 0-13 and 0-9 in the LEC.

Salem State controlled the tempo early as they held the Colonials without a shot on net most of the first period. The Vikings however, could not take advantage as they missed on a couple of open looks that would have given them an early lead.

Western Connecticut tallied the only score of the first in the 26th minute as Brower slipped behind keeper Kaitlyn O'Shea (Ledgewood, N.J.) and punched in a pass from Nora Swift (Brookfield, Conn.).  

Casie Curtin (Wrentham, Mass.) answered for the Vikings early in the second half, netting the equalizer with an unassisted goal. The tie was short lived as Matthews quickly answered less than a minute later, starting a string of five straight scores, as the Colonials pulled away for a 6-1 victory.

Swift, Amanda Spano (Amanda Mahopac, N.Y.), Brower and Matthews all scored goals over the final fifteen minutes as Western Connecticut outshot the Vikings 9-2 over the final thirty-five minutes.

Neve Manion (Newington, Conn.) made four saves in the win for the Colonials while O'Shea made five saves in the loss, all in the first half. Kelli McCarthy (Foxborough, Mass.) replaced O'Shea in the second half and did not record a save.