VIVAR LIFTS PRIDE TO NECC SEMIFINALS

WESTON, Mass. – Senior co-captain Jasmin Vivar (Attleboro, Mass.) scored a pair of goals to help lead No. 3 seeded Regis College to a 3-0 victory over No. 6 seed Newbury College in a New England Collegiate Conference Women's Soccer First Round matchup on Tuesday afternoon in Weston, Mass.

The Pride (11-5-2) will make their third-straight NECC Semifinal appearance on Thursday, taking on the winner of the No. 2 seed Elms College and No. 7 seed Bay Path University game, which took place later on Tuesday night. Newbury finishes its season at 4-11-1.

The Pride came out aggressive in the opening minutes as they took five shots and a pair of corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of the half. On the second corner kick, Jackie Rocheville's (Salem, Mass.) service found the head of Adena Joseph (Stoughton, Mass.). Joseph's header was destined for the back of the net, but Newbury's Elizabeth Fox (Orono, Maine) leapt into the air and made the one-handed save to preserve the 0-0 tie.

Unfortunately for the Nighthawks, Fox's save came out to Jasmin Vivar at the top of the 18 and she hammered a shot opposite post that found the back of the net to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.

The Pride kept up the pressure, but could not find an insurance goal as Fox finished the first half with eight saves.

In the 34th minute, red cards were assessed to each team, forcing both squads to play 10-on-10 for the rest of the game.

Newbury's best chance of the period came in the 41st minute as Jamie Chernesky (Glensville, N.Y.) played a through ball to Shannon Walsh (Massapequa, N.Y.). Walsh beat her defender and tried to beat Regis keeper Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.) with a blast, but Gagnon snared the save. Newbury had one more chance in the final minute of the period, but Chernesky's free kick was turned away by Gagnon, and Regis took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Newbury controlled the pace of play to open the second half as Walsh worked free to get off the opening shot of the period, but it sailed wide. In the 56th minute, Newbury was awarded a free kick that Chernesky lofted on goal. Gagnon had to jump into the air to keep the ball out of the net, but her save went out to Corrinn Niski (Oxford, Conn.). Niski got off a header that banged off the crossbar, but Regis could not clear. Niki Pelliccio (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) corralled the loose ball and fired on net, but Gagnon stopped the ball short of crossing the line and covered up, keeping the Nighthawks off the board.

Regis was able to change fields and continued to search for an insurance goal. Finally in the 74th minute, Michaela Bouvette (Mattapoisett, Mass.) dribbled down the right side and played a cross into the box to Adena Joseph. Joseph sent a header opposite post that Fox was able to get a hand on, but the shot trickled just inside the far post and Regis took a 2-0 lead.

Nearly two minutes later, Vivar added her second goal of the game after controlling a loose ball in the box, losing a defender, and firing into the back of the net.

Newbury made a late push as the Nighthawks were awarded four corner kicks in the final five minutes of the second half. Pelliccio and Alydia Viega (Brockton, Mass.) were both able to get shots off, but neither found their mark, as Regis was able to clear and maintain possession over the final three minutes, hanging on for the 3-0 victory.

Regis held a 23-9 advantage in shots and also attempted five corner kicks, to Newbury's four on the night. Rachel Gagnon made five saves to earn her 11th win of the year and ninth shutout. Elizabeth Fox made 13 saves for Newbury in the setback.