Worcester, Mass. (September 6) -- The Assumption College women's soccer team
advanced to the championship game of the 2013 Catholic Cup after a 2-0 victory over Saint Michael's College at the Multi-Sport Stadium on Friday evening.

The Hounds controlled much of the first half with great combination passes through the midfield and a high tempo attack that had the fans on the edge of their seats. Several times through the first half the Greyhounds placed brilliant through balls to the flank, giving the outside midfielders and forwards the ball in extremely dangerous positions each time until Kelsey Imondi (Warwick, R.I. / Toll Gate) pressured the ball up top, forcing a bad touch by the Saint Michael's center back, which senior captain Justine DiDonato (Eastchester, N.Y. / Eastchester) capitalized on by placing the ball just beyond the goalkeepers grasp for her first goal of the season.

The Greyhounds found themselves on their heels for much the last part of the first half as the Purple Knights overloaded the attacking third and struck the ball over the top repeatedly. The two freshman center backs, Jaclyn Tomasello (Halifax, Mass. / Silver Lake) and Kelsey Pietruska (Durham, Conn. / Mercy)rose to the challenge, displaying a maturity and intensity that helped Assumption carry a one-goal lead into the half.

The Greyhounds took back the momentum in the second half, and pressed the Purple Knights from the get go, controlling the tempo as Assumption's front line peppered the Purple Knights goalkeeper.  She kept Assumption off the board until the 82nd minute, when the Greyhounds counter-attacked with great 1-2 passes from Imondi to DiDonato, and then DiDonato placed a perfect ball over the Saint Michael's backline to freshman Emily Hill(Dedham, Mass. / Dedham). The freshman speedster took the ball off the top of her foot mid-air and placed a perfectly chipped ball to the upper 90 to give Assumption a 2-0 lead.

Junior goalkeeper Rachel Edgin (Whitesboro, N.Y. / Whitesboro) made eight saves, including a spectacular kick save to stop a breakaway in the first half to post a shutout in her first start since 2011. The junior made five saves in the first half while stopping three Purple Knight attempts in the second half to earn the win.

Assumption moves to 1-0-0 on the season with the win as head coach Kevin Meek earns a win in his first game as the head coach of the Greyhounds while Saint Michael's falls to 0-1-0. The Greyhounds will face off against Stonehill College, which defeated Saint Anselm College 6-5 in a shootout in the first game of the day after the teams were knotted at one after overtime. After a scoreless first half, Casey Mathews gave Stonehill a lead in the 47th minute as she chipped a ball over the head of the Saint Anselm goalkeeper for her first goal of the season. 

The Hawks responded in the 80th minute off a corner kick as Alexa Lucci volleyed home a goal off her right foot to even the score at one. Sophomore Rachel Gillies took the corner and provided the assist on the goal. After a scoreless overtime, the game was decided in penalty kicks. After Saint Anselm missed their second attempt, the Skyhawks made their first four kicks, giving Stonehill a chance to seal the game with their fifth kick. The Skyhawks missed that attempt, extending the shootout until senior goalkeeper Amy Wheaton stopped a second free kick, and the Skyhawks won the shootout six to five in seven rounds.

Each team earns a tie with the decision, but Saint Anselm College will take on Saint Michael's College at noon on Saturday in the consolation game, while Stonehill College and Assumption College will square off for the Catholic Cup at 3 p.m.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.