BOX SCORE SENIOR DAY PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven women’s soccer team dropped its regular-season finale, 4-2, to Southern New Hampshire on Saturday evening at Kayo Field. The two teams will meet again next week in Manchester in a Northeast-10 Tournament Quarterfinal.
 
With the loss, New Haven wraps up its regular season at 11-6-1 overall and 8-6-1 in the Northeast-10 to claim the No. 6 seed. The Penmen, who earn the No. 3 seed, improve to 10-5-3 with an 8-4-3 conference tally.
 
The Chargers got goals from Nicole Pacapelli (West Haven, Conn./West Haven / Stonehill College) and Lucy Francisco (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence ), but Southern New Hampshire answered each marker then added two more to claim the match.
 
Pacapelli’s seventh marker of the fall started the scoring in the 13th minute. A a cross attempt by Amber Simms (Southport, England/Southport) was cleared out of the box by the Penmen, but the ball found the foot of Pacapelli, who one-timed it from 18 yards out to put New Haven on top, 1-0.
 
Southern New Hampshire answered less than three minutes later. Ashley Jaskula dribbled down the left side in the 16th minute and angled a shot to the far post beyond the reach of Natasha Purchla (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) to even the match at 1-1.
 
After the pair of unassisted strikes, a well-orchestrated team effort gave the lead back to New Haven. Simms fed Marisa Garcia (Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) on the left side of the box, and the freshman crossed the ball to Francisco, who turned and fired for a goal.
 
Francisco’s sixth goal of 2012 was also her 57th career tally – moving the senior into sole possession of fifth place on the Chargers’ all-time goals list and sixth on the points ledger. The assists for Simms and Garcia were the second and sixth of the season, respectively, for the two midfielders.
 
The Penmen again answered in short order – this time on a Morgan Branco goal assisted by Jaskula. Southern New Hampshire would then take the lead 73 seconds later on an unassisted marker by Sarah Waltsak that stood up as the game-winner.
 
The 3-2 halftime score held into the 84th minute, when an insurance goal by Lexxi Carroll assisted by Kaleigh Roberge ran the tally to its eventual 4-2 final.
 
Purchla made five saves for the Chargers. Samantha Whittier turned away four shots for the visitors.

The postseason rematch between the two clubs will be held in Manchester. Due to the impending threat of inclement weather throughout New England, the date and time for the quarterfinal contest are to be determined. Details will be available on NewHavenChargers.com as soon as they are finalized.