Castleton Downs Emerson in ECAC Semifinal
Third-seeded Castleton State College made the most of its
scoring opportunities and upset second seeded Emerson College 22-15
in the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference New
England Division III Championship tournament at Emerson’s
Rotch Field. The Spartans connected on 22 of 36 shots in the
game.
Castleton drew first blood in the contest when Angelica Mazzola
(FY, Centerport, N.Y.) scored on an assist from Nicole Adams (Jr.,
Rutland, Vt.) 3:05 into the game. Emerson came right back,
knotting the game at one on a goal by Amy Gervis (FY, Randolph,
N.J.) 53 seconds later.
Goals by Adams, Marie VanDerKar (So., Manchester, Vt.), and Mazzola
regained the lead for the Spartans, but Emerson then answered with
a pair of Maeghan Ross (So., Wrentham, Mass.) goals to pull the
Lions within one.
Adams again hit the back of the net off Stephanie Pearce’s
(Jr., Shoreham, N.Y.) third assist of the game, and Ross answered
again for Emerson to keep the one goal deficit. A four goal
burst by Castleton that included goals by Pearce, Mazzola and two
by Adams over the next 1:52 opened a 9-4 edge.
The team then traded three goals each to end the half with a 12-7
Castleton advantage. The last minute of play proved costly
for Emerson as Ross, the Lions’ leading scorer picked up a
second yellow card with 32 seconds remaining in the half and was
disqualified for the remainder of the game.
Emerson’s Laura Miley (So., Cranston, R.I.) opened the second
half with the first of her three goals in the period. Pearce
answered just over a minute later and Stephanie Paproski (FY,
Newtown, Conn.) gave Castleton a six goal lead. Emerson was
able to pull within for goals on two different occasions, but that
was as close as the Lions would come.
Emerson outshot Castleton 40-36, had a 21-11 edge in ground balls,
and a 22-13 turnover margin. Castleton was dominant in draw
controls, winning 18 to the Lions’ 10.
Francesca Mazzola (Sr., Centerport, N.Y.) had a huge game in net
for Castleton making 18 saves. Emerson’s Kristen
DeTroia (FY, Bridgewater, N.J.) had nine in the losing effort.
Castleton (15-3) will now host fourth-seeded Western New England
College in the ECAC New England Division III Championship game on
Sunday with a game time to be announced. Emerson saw its 12
game win streak snapped to finish the season at 13-3.
Courtesy: Emerson Athletic Communications
