Bridgeport, Conn. - Making the team's fourth consecutive appearance in the East Coast Conference Women's Soccer Championship Final, the host University of Bridgeport Purple Knights picked up the program's second ECC Crown in the last three seasons with a convincing 4-0 victory over the visiting Roberts Wesleyan College Redhawks on Saturday afternoon at Knights Field. With the win, UB lifts its overall record to 18-1-1, which ties the program's single season record for victories set in 2008 and 2013, and the Purple Knights receive an automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament that will begin next Friday with first round play. Bridgeport also won this season's ECC regular season title. Roberts Wesleyan, making the first ECC title match appearance in school history, is now 12-5-2, and the Redhawks will hope to hear their name called for an NCAA At-Large bid on Monday night when the Championship field is announced.
Saturday's win gives the Purple Knights' their third ECC title in program history having won in 2009 and 2013, and this year's NCAA appearance will be Bridgeport's eighth all-time, as UB has played in the NCAA's every season since 2007 expect following the 2012 campaign.
The Purple Knights dominated the action in Saturday's ECC Final otshooting Roberts Wesleyan, 30-6.
Despite holding a 12-2 edge in shots in the first half, the host Purple Knights led only 1-0 at the half on a goal by sophomore Ariana Weingrad (Hicksville, N.Y.), who found the back of the net for the first time this season when her long shot skipped past Redhawks' goalkeeper, freshman Mary Kate Eckert. Eckert played a fine match in the ECC Final making a whopping 13 saves to keep her team close.
Bridgeport would put the match away with three goals in a 6:09 span in the second half from the 69:44 to the 75:53 marks.
Flo Gamby (Goffs Oaks, England) netted the first of the three scores, her sixth of the year, off an assist from junior Hanne Neby (Furnes, Norway). Neby would score UB's next tally, also goal number six of the season for her, off an assist from the East Coast Conference Championship Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Bridgeport junior Nicola Worthington (Cholley, England). UB's Jess Laszlo (Fr., Stamford, Conn.), would finish off the second half scoring frenzy with her team-high 20th goal when she put home a rebound of a Gamby shot off the crossbar.
UB freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Wendelius (Lidingo, Sweden) made four saves on the day to notch her tenth solo shutout of the season. As team, Bridgeport has recorded clean sheets in 15 of its 18 wins, and the Purple Knights have outscored the opposition, 49-7, on the season.
The complete field for the 2015 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament will be announced at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 9 at www.ncaa.com.
Provided by the Bridgeport Sports Information Department.
