Women’s Soccer Falls to Clark University, 4-0

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Rinaudo (Bellmore, N.Y.) made seven saves but Clark University scored three times in the second half and Janelle Pasternack (North Brookfield, Mass.) netted two goals to help lift the Cougars to a 4-0 win over the Blazers in Thursday evening's non-conference women's soccer game at Leary Field.

With the loss, Elms moves to 2-7-1 on the season, while Clark improves to 3-7-0 overall.

The opening stanza featured back-and-forth action with both teams receiving several chances. Clark broke through in the 36^th minute when Emily Braun (Irvington, N.Y.) delivered a pass to Pasternack who made a run to the six-yard box and fired the ball into the net giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

Rinaudo made four saves in the frame, while Gabby Paolini (North Potomac, Md.) made five of her seven saves in the first half.

Pasternack gave Clark a two-goal cushion just 30 seconds into the second half when she received a short cross from Charlotte Mays (Melrose, Mass.) and deposited the ball into the net.

Jenna Zarou (Garden City, N.Y.) nearly made it a three-goal advantage when she connected for a sizzling shot that bounced off the crossbar and cleared away by the Elms defense in the 37^th minute.

Clark later extended its lead when Mays was on the receiving end of a feed into the box from Braun at the 74:25 mark to set the score at 3-0.

The Cougars capped the scoring when Emma Lynch (Pawtucket, R.I.) capitalized with a marker on a cross into the middle from Afra Danai (Amherst, Mass.) to preserve the 4-0 victory.

Elms held a 10-7 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes of play, while Clark held a 12-2 margin in the second period.

Rinaudo made three stops while Paolini made two in the second half.

Elms' had a pair of fantastic scoring opportunities the first of which came with just over 10 minutes to play in the first stanza when sophomore midfielder Hannah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) curled a shot that just went outside the far post.

Senior defender Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) then drove a free kick from 40-yards that Paolini made a sensational save on, reaching just under the crossbar to haul in the ball and keep the game at 1-0 in favor of Clark.

Elms is back in action on Saturday, October 5 when it travels to Becker College for a 2:30 p.m. conference matchup with the Hawks.