Six Goals Send Purple Knights To CACC Final

Bridgeport, Conn. – The University of Bridgeport women's soccer team stayed red hot in their 2023 postseason march, defeating Georgian Court University 6-0 Friday afternoon. The number seven Purple Knights outshot the number six seed Lions 16-2. The win advances UB to Sunday's CACC Final and improves their season record to 9-7-3.

Kate Thill (Jr., Goetzingen, Luxembourg) started the scoring in the eighth minute, picking the ball up just within the attacking half. Thill drove past one defender, danced around another inside the penalty area and played the ball just outside the reach of the Lions' goalkeeper with her left foot to take a 1-0 lead.

Kate would strike again, 30 minutes later after receiving a 40-yard pass from Angelina LoFranco (Jr., Greenacres, Fla.) right at the top corner of the penalty area. Thill took two touches to cut inside before bending her right footed shot up and around the Georgian Court keeper for her 12^th goal of the year and to double the lead, Purple Knights 2, Lions 0.

The halftime buzzer would sound with the teams separated by the 2-0 scoreline.

Georgian Court started the second half a bit more positively, pressing higher and possessing the ball more consistently. The Lions still struggled in the final third, only getting two shots off, both of which were on target.

All their progress was undone in the 53^rd minute when Tatianna Lizarraga (Grad., Tucson, Ariz.) took on her defender one versus one towards the corner and sent the ball towards the back post. The ball went directly into the side netting to give UB a 3-0 lead.

A defensive scare lead to a GCU Lion in on goal in the 62^nd minute. Abby Kennelly was able to wrestle the ball away and drive at the UB. The shot was placed low and to the left of Angelina Griva (Fr., Zakynthos, Greece) but the keeper pushed the ball away from the goal and danger.

Lizarraga doubled her afternoon tally, scoring again in the 71^st minute. This time there was no doubt about the striker's intentions as she road one challenge and created space with a stepover before unleashing a shot into the top left corner from outside the box. Her 12^th goal of the year gave Bridgeport the 4-0 lead.

There was more to come in the 79^th minute after a short corner kick routine ended in Melike Dincel (Jr., Izmir, Turkey) playing a ball across the face of goal with Erika Mazza (Grad., Campania, Italy) reacting best and redirecting the ball into the back of the net. Mazza's third goal of the season giving UB a 5-0 lead.

Dincel would score herself in the 86^th minute, after being set free by Daniela Frey (Sr., Barcelona, Spain) down the right-hand side, cutting in on her left foot and sending the ball past the keeper at the near post. Her second goal of the season capped off the game with UB on top 6-0.

Up next, UB will play the number four seeded Holy Family University, after they defeated the number one seed, Jefferson University on penalties. The Tigers and Purple Knights played to a 0-0 draw in their regular season matchup earlier this year. Kickoff will be at 11:00 a.m. on Knights Field.