MORRISVILLE, N.Y. — It was better late than never Wednesday night as the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team found the back of the net with 2:19 left in regulation to win 1-0 at Morrisville State College in non-league play.
SVC (2-2) owned a huge shot advantage through the match, but it was the final Mountaineer attempt off the foot of senior Karina Meza (Los Angeles, Calif.) that broke the scoreless stalemate and gave the visitors all they needed for the win. Meza's second goal of the year also happened to be her second game winner as she has now provided the lone tally in each of Southern Vermont's 1-0 victories.
The Mountaineers are next in action on Saturday when they visit SUNY Cobleskill for a 1 p.m. start.
Southern Vermont finished the night with a 24-4 edge in total shots, 14 of those being putting on goal compared to just three for the Mustangs (1-1). The Mountaineers remained disciplined throughout the contest, being called for only three fouls while Morrisville was whistled 13 times in the loss.
Southern Vermont sophomore keeper Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) saved all three shots she faced, including a final attempt as time was expiring, to secure her second shutout of the season (2-2).
A 10-4 advantage in awarded corner kicks didn't pay off for Southern Vermont through the first 87 minutes of play; their final one, however, taken by junior Lauren Nesshoever (Chittenden, Vt.), found Meza in the box ready to pull the trigger. Her first attempt was blocked by the Mustang defense, but the senior Mountaineer persisted and ricocheted the rebound off a Morrisville player, putting her team ahead as the carom crossed the goal line.
The win is the first for SVC over Morrisville since 2012 and just the second against the Mustangs in seven all-time meetings. It is also the only time Southern Vermont has ever won on Morrisville's home pitch.