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Top-seeded CCSU used two Danielle Pearse goals - including the game-winner in the 81st minute - to edge fourth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson and move on to Sunday's final where it will meet second-seeded Saint Francis U. The two-time defending NEC champion Red Flash advanced with a clinical performance in a 4-0 win over third-seeded Mount St. Mary's in the second match of the day. This sets up a 1 vs. 2 battle on Sunday with the NEC title at stake. Kickoff is at 1 pm. The match can be viewed for free on NEC Front Row.

#1 CCSU 2, #4 Fairleigh Dickinson 1
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New Britain, CT -- Top-seeded Central Connecticut used two goals from senior All-NEC first teamer Danielle Pearse (Seaford, NY/Seaford) in the second half to defeat fourth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, 2-1, and advance to the NEC Women’s Soccer championship match on Sunday. 
 
It was an entertaining second half with all three goals in the contest coming in the final 36 minutes of the match. 
 
CCSU senior netminder Ashley Cavanaugh (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown), the NEC Goalkeeper of the Year two years running, made four saves. Pearse, one of six Blue Devils that landed NEC first team honors, netted both her goals off crosses from teammate Jenna Rae Covello (Plymouth, CT/Terryville). 
 
It was an active first half for the Blue Devils, outshooting the Knights 6-0 in the first 45 minutes of action.
 
The first goal of the match developed at the 54:46 mark when NEC Midfielder of the Year Charlotte Maurer (Northampton, MA/Northampton) sent a long through ball from the midfield line.  It was Covello that outpaced Knight defenders to send one toward goal where Pearse found paydirt with her right foot. 
 
FDU refused to go away, however, ramping up their attack to win a pair of corner kicks not long thereafter. With just over 30 minutes to play, FDU freshman Madelyn Robbins (Cambridge, Ontario/Jacob Hespeler) streaked through the left side of the field where she sent a through-ball through traffic to junior teammate Jackson Bennett (Toronto, Ontario/Humberside Collegiate Institute), who was able to quickly slice a wide-angle shot with her left foot that beat Cavanaugh near post. 
 
Less than 20 minutes later, Covello used her speed once again to find room on the right alley where she sent a hard cross that Pearse deflected in again for her second of the day and ninth of the year with under 10 minutes remaining.  The Maurer-Covello-Pearse combination played a role in both Blue Devil goals on the afternoon. 
 
CCSU (15-1-2) held on for the 2-1 victory and extended its winning streak to nine games and unbeaten streak to 16 matches.
 
FDU (6-10-3) junior goalkeeper Amanda Fitzgerald (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) stopped five shots in the loss. 
 
The Blue Devils outshot FDU, 13-6, on the afternoon.

CCSU will attempt to win its ninth NEC title on Sunday.


#2 Saint Francis U 4, #3 Mount St. Mary's 0
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New Britain, CT -- Second-seeded Saint Francis U was firing on all cylinders to prevail 4-0 over third-seeded Mount St. Mary’s in the second semifinal of the afternoon.
 
The Red Flash showcased their balanced attack all afternoon with seven different players registering at least one point. Two players contributed their first goals of the season with freshman Corinne Renninger (Bechtelsville, PA/Boyertown) and sophomore Dakota Graham (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville Area) both scoring.
 
SFU (8-8-3) exhibited excellent chemistry with two beautiful goals in the first half. The first of the match came 14:53 minutes into the action, as sophomore Erica Carpenter (Abingdon, MD/Notre Dame Prep) sent a long looping cross from the near sideline that sophomore Emilee Barnett (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) headed in for the 1-0 lead. 
 
The second goal was a multi-player effort. NEC first teamer Sara Suler (Hermitage, PA/Hickory) volleyed a looping ball that redshirt sophomore Mariana Jaleca (Sebtubal, Portugal) settled on the right side of the box. Jaleca spotted 2017 NEC Player of the Year Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle), who held off her defender while Renniger overlapped. Renniger took the drop off pass and used her left foot to score far post for her first goal of the season. 
 
The Red Flash opened the second half with a 2-0 advantage and did not take their foot off the gas pedal, scoring two more goals to secure the victory. 
 
After playing a major role in the attack throughout the match, Suler scored her first of the tournament and sixth of the year off a cross from freshman Heather Markiewicz (Darnestown, MD/Northwest) that McGhee deflected toward the center of the box. 
 
SFU tacked on another less than five minutes later off an unassisted goal from Graham, who used some fancy footwork in the box off a throw in to free herself up for a wide angle blast that beat Mount keeper Maggie Barron (Centreville, VA/Westfield (Rutgers)) far post.
 
SFU redshirt junior Julia Hernan (Collegeville, PA/The Hill School) stopped three shots to notch her seventh clean sheet of the season. 
 
Barron finished with six saves as the Mount ended their year with a 5-9-3 record.
 
The Red Flash outshot the Mount, 18-5, on the day.

SFU will attempt to become the first NEC team to three-peat since CCSU won four straight from 2002-05.