November 15, 2008

Jenney Lifts No. 18 Springfield To 1-0 Victory Over No. 12 Union in NCAA Women's Soccer First Round

Springfield, Mass. - November 15, 2008 - Springfield College senior goalkeeper Sue Jenney (Agawam, Mass.) saved a Union penalty kick with 55 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the 18th-ranked Pride to a 1-0 win over No. 12 Union in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Pride improve to 16-3-2 and reach the 16-win plateau for the second straight season. The Dutchwomen's season comes to a close with a 14-5-1 mark.

Springfield will now take on No. 9 Amherst on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm. Earlier in the season, the two teams tied, 1-1.

The game was played with rain coming and going, but the major weather factor was the wind. Springfield played with the wind at it's back in the first half, while Union had it in the second.

Union, which had control of seemingly the entire second half, was awarded a penalty kick in the 89th minute after the Pride were whistled for a hand box on the edge of box. Union's Sara Wilson (Wilbraham, Mass.) took the penalty kick for the Dutchwomen, but her shot was just to the right of Jenney, who punched it away to keep Union off the scoreboard. Union then had two follow up shots the members of the Springfield defense were able to block, ending any chance for a Union tally.

"What can I say about Sue (Jenney) on the penalty kick with 49 seconds to go. It was the save of the year," said Springfield head coach John Gibson.

"This has been the story of our NCAA lives over the past few years. We do just about everything -- create good shots, outshoot the other team, everything -- but we just could not put the ball in the back of the net. It's been like this for us before," said Union head coach Brian Speck. "But give lots of credit to Springfield. John (Gibson) coaches them so they know right where they need to be. And give credit to their goalkeeper. She came up with the big save on the penalty kick, and we had more opportunities right after that. With the wind, against the wind, we just couldn't score."

Outshooting the Pride in the game 25-6 and holding an 11-2 advantage in corner kicks, Union had several outstanding opportunities to score, especially late in the second half. However, Jenney and her defensive line of Kayla Thibeault (Lebanon, Conn.), Jess Prencipe (Andover, Mass.), Delaney Cantrall (Santa Paula, Calif.), and Gina Calabrese (East Longmeadow, Mass.) put forth a spirited defensive effort en route to shutting out the 12th-ranked team in the country.

After Jenney made a diving save on Katie McLean's (Newton, Mass.) shot from the left corner, Allison Cuozzo (Norfolk, Mass.) had a shot at an empty goal. However, Cantrall came running across the goal line and jumped in front of Cuozzo's shot, bringing the crowd to its feet with just over six minutes to play.

"Union was most impressive in every way. Brian (Speck) has a very nice team. They are very well-coached, well-organized. We had two chances in the second half, but could not capitalize. Considering the wind, I thought we did reasonably well. But to be honest, I thought we stole one today," said Gibson.

The lone goal of the match came in the 25th minute when Nicole Hanewich (Smithfield, R.I.) netted her team-leading 10th goal of the season. After Maria Evans (Gloucester, Mass.) slipped a through ball behind the Dutchwomen defense, Hanewich ran onto the ball just inside the right side of the box. Hanewich then slotted her shot into the far left corner of the goal, just pass Union keeper Abby Stohler (West Hartford, Conn.), to give Springfield the only goal it would need. "Nicole scored what I would call a classic Springfield goal. Then we managed to hold on for dear life," said Gibson.

Jenney finished the game with seven saves in goal but was active throughout as she made numerous plays punching away corner kicks and crosses. Stohler finished with just one save in the loss.