Sept. 15, 2010
Box Score
Siena women's soccer is on a roll. The Saints spun their third straight shutout and remained undefeated with a 2-0 triumph over Vermont in Burlington, Vt. Senior captain Cara Riley netted the game-winner and Laura Ettinger made three saves to record her second shutout of the season.
Siena (6-0), which entered the game receiving 12 votes in this week's NSCAA/HendickCars.com National Rankings, has already set the program record for most consecutive wins to start a season and is off to its second best start ever following a 10-game unbeaten streak to being the 2008 season (8-0-2).
Against Vermont (1-5), the Saints prevailed in a grinding effort where the defense limited opportunities and the offense came through with timely scores.
Riley got the Saints on the board in the 33rd minute thanks to a great individual effort by Gabby Racines. The freshman raced down the right side beating several players before sending in a cross. Riley, who had started in towards the goal, popped back out from the middle and one-timed a shot from the top of the box that she curled just inside the near post.
Tabitha Tice, who led the team with six shots, added an insurance tally in the 81st minute when she headed in a rebound. Vermont native Brittany Pfaff, playing in front of several dozen friends, family and former high school teammates, fired a shot off the crossbar that caromed back to Tice who headed it in.
"It was a grinding effort in the second half," noted head coach Steve Karbowski. "It was nice to get that second goal and give us a little cushion."
The second goal was more than enough as Ettinger and the defense did the rest as the junior goalie posted her 12th career shutout, tying her for the third most in program history.
"I thought Laura did a great job defending her box and the defense did not give up any good chances," added Karbowski.
The Saints out-shot Vermont 19-9 and took four corners to the Catamounts two. UVM goalie Alyssa Kelly made ten saves for the Catamounts, which suffered its fifth consecutive defeat and fourth straight shutout.
The Saints will have their longest stretch of the year between games - nine days - before returning to the pitch next Friday, Sept. 24. Karbowski goes for career win No. 100 as the Saints travel to Worcester, Mass. to matchup with Holy Cross in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
