Fontes Finishes Off Dean College, 2-0

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Zhandali Fontes (Taunton) scored a goal in each half and Laura Ellis (Raynham) posted the team's fourth shutout as the Massasoit women's soccer team defeated Dean College, 2-0 on Wednesday at Warrior Field.

Fontes netted the game's first goal when she volleyed a long pass from defender Haley Wells (Whitman), lofting the shot to the back of the net in the 35^th minute of action.

Leading 1-0 at the break, Fontes stole the ball from a Dean player and went 70 yards on a breakaway to account for the Warriors' second goal.

Defensively, Ellis made six saves, five coming in the second half. It marked Ellis' third clean sheet individually and fourth of the season for Massasoit (5-3).

"Z's (Fontes) breakaway in the second half was one of the key plays of the game," head coach Jim Stapleton said. "That gave us a two-goal cushion.

"Courtney Wagner (Stoughton) made two nice defensive plays to keep Dean from scoring and Laura (Ellis) was solid in goal for us."

WHY MASSASOIT WON: The Warriors were able to finish around the net as Fontes scored a goal in each half. Dean fired off 16 shots, 11 after halftime and hit the post three times but were unable to find the back of the net.

FONTES FINISHES: Zhandali Fontes recorded her third two-goal game of the season, all coming in the last four contests. For the season, Fontes has eight goals, which is second behind teammate Kayla Gomes (Halifax) with 13.

WAGNER IS A WALL: Defender Courtney Wagner (Stoughton) made two key defensive plays in the second half, both coming in a 30-second span. Dean had a breakaway, but Wagner stepped in and blocked the shot. On the ensuing corner kick, Wagner was on the post defensively and made a stop and kicked the ball out of the goalie box to keep the shutout intact.

NEXT UP: Massasoit travels to Springfield, Mass. to take on divisional foe Springfield Tech on Saturday at 1 p.m.