UNION, N.J. (11/11/09) - Catholic University junior Tory Gagliardi (Pilesgrove, N.J.) scored two goals to lead the sixth-seeded Cardinals to a 3-1 win over third-seeded Kean University in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Mid-Atlantic Region opening round on Wednesday evening. In a rematch of last year's ECAC championship game that the Cougars won 3-2 in overtime, Catholic avenges that loss by scoring the first three goals of the game and advances to face second-seeded Montclair State University on Saturday, November 14.

For the Cougars (11-5), sophomore Lauren Kusik (Randolph, N.J.) scored the team's lone goal off of a penalty stroke in the second half.

Catholic (12-6) got on the board with just over 10 minutes remaining in the opening half when sophomore Tracey Scanlon (North Wales, Pa.) directed a pass to Gagliardi, who scored the first goal with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Gagliardi extended the lead to 2-0 before halftime less than five minutes later following a scramble in front of the cage.

The Cardinals built the three-goal lead, as junior Meredith Chandler (Tiburon, Calif.) knocked in the shot from sophomore Mary Swarthout (Rockville, Md.) in the 47th minute.

Less than two minutes later, Kusik trimmed the deficit to 3-1 after scoring on a penalty stroke.

Catholic held a 13-10 advantage in shots, while Kean had a 10-8 edge in penalty corners.

Junior Lauren Dobbs (Palmyra, N.J.) made six saves for the Cougars, while senior goalkeeper Marian Cassilly (Gambrills, Md.) stopped five shots for Catholic.