Sept. 28, 2008

Final Stats

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Freshman Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y.) scored in the 19th minute and junior Marisa Viola (Cutchogue, N.Y.) stopped six shots to make it stand as the Stony Brook University women's soccer team defeated the Hartford Hawks, 1-0, in both teams' America East opener on Sunday afternoon at LaValle Stadium. Stony Brook improves to 5-5-0 overall and 1-0 in the America East with the victory while Hartford falls to 3-4-3 and 0-1.

Senior Brooke Barbuto (Syracuse, N.Y.) set up the game-winner, placing a gorgeous pass from the right sideline to McKenna who received the ball on the left side of the 18-yard box and slotted it into the right corner of the net for her second goal of the season. Sophomore Jen Egan (Essex Fells, N.J.) nearly made it 2-0 late in the first half but her looping shot was stopped by Hartford keeper Lauren Brodeur.

Viola had to make just one save in the opening half for the Seawolves, who took the 1-0 lead into the break. Brodeur made three saves in the period for the Hawks, who were outshot 6-5 by Stony Brook in the first half.

The Seawolves kept the pressure on to begin the second half as Brodeur was forced to make saves on shots from freshman Holly Razzaghi (Bloomsburg, Pa.) and junior Kate Collins (Essex Fells, N.J.). Sophomore Sarah Dwyer (Laurel, Md.) prevented the Hawks from scoring midway through the second period, heading a loose ball just wide of the Stony Brook net.

Viola did the rest for the Seawolves, stopping a shot from 20 yards out by Michelle Babin before making a diving stop on a Kacey Busque shot with just over 10 minutes remaining. Viola finished the contest with the six saves as she recorded her third shutout of the season. Brodeur made eight stops for the Hawks.

Stony Brook returns to action on Thursday, traveling to take on last season's regular season champion New Hampshire. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.