Springfield, Mass. – September 19, 2009 – Courtney PriceÂ's penalty kick goal in the 65th minute lifted the Springfield College womenÂ's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over visiting RPI on a perfect fall afternoon on Saturday.
Springfield, which is ranked 18th in the latest NSCAA National Poll, now stands at 4-1-1 on the season, while RPI drops to 3-4-1.
The Pride scored the first goal of the game 20 minutes into the contest as Caitlin Sawczuk netted her team-leading third goal of the year. Sawczuk sent a ball into the box from 35 yards out which took a high bounce towards the goal. RPI goalie Melissa Pinsonneault misplayed the ball as it bounced over her head for the PrideÂ's first tally of the match.
Springfield tacked on another goal in the second half when it converted on a penalty kick. After Jess Prencipe was fouled in the box during a corner kick, Springfield was awarded a penalty kick. Price stepped up and buried her shot into the upper right corner of the goal to give SC a two-goal advantage with 25:22 to play.
The Engineers made it a one goal game in the 74th minute as Shannon Maguire found the back of the net. Maguire beat her defender on a run down the left side and lofted a shot into the right side of the net from 20 yards out to make it a 2-1 game.
That would be as close as the visitors would get though as Springfield held on for the 2-1 victory. Hanna MacDougall finished with two saves in goal for Springfield, while Pinsonneault made two stops as well. Springfield held a slight 10-7 advantage in shots for the game.
The Pride will next play on Wednesday evening when it travels to take on local-foe Amherst at 7:00 pm.