WEST HARTFORD, Conn.
-Larissa Nysch scored the only goal of the game in the 13th minute to send No.
6 seed Stony Brook to a 1-0 win over No. 1 seed Hartford to capture the program's
first ever America East Championship title on Sunday evening in West Hartford,
Conn.
The Seawolves became the first No. 6 seed to win the
conference title and were just the third team in America East history to topple
the No. 1 seed in the championship game.
Stony Brook came out with aggressive play early in the
contest and had created a chance when Taryn Schoenbeck picked off a pass in
Hartford's defensive third. Schoenbeck was denied on the breakaway by America
East Goalkeeper of the Year Erin Quinlan in the sixth minute to keep the game
scoreless.
The Hawks had three corners in the first half, including two
in the first two minutes, but were unable to generate any quality scoring
chances thanks to a strong Stony Brook defensive effort anchored by First Team
All-Conference selection Ahriel Fernandez.
Stony Brook broke the scoreless tie in the 13th minute, with
Kristen Baker sending a cross in from the left side that was corralled by
Nysch. The junior forward took one touch around a Hawk defender and fired a
shot with her left foot into the left side netting for her ninth goal of the
season.
Nysch had a point all three of Stony Brook's tournament
games, finishing the championship with two goals and an assist.
Freshman Sidney Spremullo almost tied the game for the Hawks
moments later, dribbling through defenders into the left side of the box, but
put a shot from six-yards out just over the bar.
America East Striker of the Year Amelia Pereira was held to
just three shots in the game, but was unable to put one on net, mostly because
of the defense from Fernandez.
After halftime, Pereira had a shot from just outside the 18,
but it was blocked by Fernandez and cleared away.
Hartford continued to put the pressure on the Stony Brook
defense throughout the second half, and came close to tying the game with
several opportunities late.
The first came from freshman Elise Galipo, who received a
pass inside the penalty area on the right side and rifled a shot that was
tipped over the crossbar by Stony Brook keeper Ashley Castanio.
A minute late, Pereira had her best opportunity of the game,
taking a shot from the corner of the 18 that beat Castanio but hit the crossbar
and was cleared away.
The Seawolves held strong defensively to preserve the
shutout, and become the first America East team to win three games on the road
to win the title.
It was just the second victory for Stony Brook in the
all-time series with Hartford, and the first since 2008.
Hartford's Quinlan along with Pereira and Galipo were named
to the All-Tournament team. For Stony Brook, Nysch, Fernandez and Castanio were
joined on the All-Tournament team by midfielder Sa'sha Kershaw who was the
tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Stony Brook receives the America East's automatic bid to the
NCAA College Cup, and will find out its seed during the NCAA Selection Show at
4:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 5, exclusively on NCAA.com.
2012 Women's Soccer All-Tournament
Team
Chelsea DeVerna, Sr., M, Albany
Tara Fraprie, Jr., M, New Hampshire
Lily Feldman,Sr., M, Vermont
Ally Ramos, Fr., GK, Vermont
Charlene Achille, Fr., M, Maine
Lisa Bijman, Jr., B, Maine
Erin Quinlan, Jr., GK, Hartford
Amelia Pereira, Sr., F, Hartford
Elise Galipo, Fr., F, Hartford
Sa'sha Kershaw, Sr., M, Stony Brook
Ahriel Fernandez, Jr., B, Stony Brook
Larissa Nysch, Jr., F, Stony Brook
Ashley Castanio, Jr., GK, Stony Brook
Most Outstanding Player
Sa'sha
Kershaw, Sr., M, Stony Brook