By Michael Letendre
SPRINGFIELD, MA – Western Connecticut State University junior Myah Croze has done it once again.
And that meant more scoring exploits for the women’s soccer program.
This time around, she kicked in another game-winning goal on Sunday – helping WestConn to a 2-1 triumph over Western New England College in a non-conference affair from Suprenant Field in Springfield, Massachusetts.
WestConn is now 2-0 on the season while the Golden Bears fell to 1-2.
The four-year Bristol Eastern star already has three goals on the young season for the Western program.
And the forward from Bristol, an unrelenting bulldog on the field, scored two goals in the double overtime win on Sunday.
Fellow Bristol Eastern teammate Karly Martin was sensational in the goal for the second straight match as the keeper scooped in 10 saves.
Overall, Croze had the Western New England goal under fire the entire afternoon, taking five shots at the net — connecting on two to help her squad get to the pay window.
It was scoreless over the first half of play but quickly into the second session, Croze cashed in on a goal.
At the 58th minute of play, teammate Suzana Imetovski found Croze closing in as she jabbed the ball into the top-right corner of the goal to put WestConn on top 1-0.
The Golden Bears later tied things up at 1-1 and after the completion of regulation, two extra sessions were needed to determine a winner.
Martin made two huge saves in overtime and Croze connected on the game-winner at the 105:03 mark of the showdown as WestConn kicked up a huge 2-1 victory to stay undefeated on the campaign.
Martin named Goalkeeper of the Week
After an outstanding weekend in the net, Martin was named Little East Conference Goalkeeper of the Week.
Over the two WestConn wins, Martin allowed just two goals while scooping in 20 saves to earn weekly honors.
Against WPI on Saturday, Martin collected 10 saves in the 2-1 win while the following day, in the overtime victory, she added another ten to turn away the Golden Bears
WCSU was picked second in the LEC preseason Coaches’ Poll
WestConn, the 2019 LEC tournament runner-up, was picked to finish second this season in the 2021 LEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Western totaled 55 points and two first-place votes in the poll.
Croze and Martin, both First-Team all-LEC starters in 2019, helped to make WestConn a top conference selection.
Next up…
Western is finally home for a match this Wednesday as the locals welcome Ramapo College to Danbury from the Westside Athletics Complex at 2 p.m.
