PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. — Southern Connecticut State University women's soccer opened Northeast-10 Conference play with a 2-0 win at Pace to run their unbeaten streak to start the year to seven games (5-0-2). Meanwhile, the Owls defense still hasn't blinked. Southern Connecticut has not allowed a goal in 630 minutes and win their first Northeast 10 Conference game of the season, 2-0 at Pace.
Southern's scoreless streak is thanks in large part of the play of keeper Makenzi Pastrek. Pastrek made five saves in a 2-0 win at Pace on Friday afternoon at Northwell Stadium, backstopping the Owls to their seventh straight shutout to open the season. Elizabeth Bishop and Gigi Pena scored for the Owls, while Bishop and Julia Hargrave had assists.
Bishop opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Substitute Julia Hargraves found her in the box for Bishop's team-leading fifth goal of the year. The senior forward, who led all players with six shots and four on goal, has now contributed a goal or an assist in three consecutive matches.
She then turned provider in the 62nd minute. Bishop's service set up Pena for the insurance tally, Pena's second of the season, to make it 2-0. The assist was Bishop's second of the year.
Pastrek did the rest.
Pace came out on the front foot and tested her early. She stopped Bailey Olson in the 15th minute, Alyssa Blanchette in the 19th, Ava Jordan in the 29th, Meredith Klosek in the 31st and Blanchette again in the 45th to get Southern to the break up 1-0.
The second half belonged to the Owls. Southern outshot Pace 10-5 after halftime and limited the Setters to one shot on frame despite three corner kicks. Blanchette hit the right woodwork in the 47th minute and Jordan hit the top woodwork in the 87th, but Pastrek's streak was never truly threatened late as center backs Julia Salley, Saga Mottonen and Nelli Miettinen — all of whom went 90 minutes alongside Pastrek — cleared everything in front of her.
Southern finished with a 17-14 edge in shots, including 5-5 on goal. Frida Norret added five shots off the bench for the Owls. Pace held a 6-2 advantage in corners and committed 14 fouls to Southern's nine in a physical game with no cards. Attendance was 164.
For Southern, the numbers speak to a special start for the Owls. Seven games, seven shutouts, 630 minutes without conceding. Opponents have managed just 14 shots on goal combined, and Pastrek has stopped 13 of them in her 563 minutes. The Owls have used two goalkeepers this season, but Pastrek has been the constant, starting all seven matches.
At the other end, Bishop has been equally consistent. With a goal and an assist Friday, she now has six points in her last three games and leads the team with five goals and seven points on the season.
Southern will be on the road for the next two games - at Franklin Pierce on Sept. 26 and at Molloy on Sept. 30. The Owls return home on Saturday, Oct. 3 to host Southern New Hampshire at 4 p.m. at Jess Dow Field.
