Women’s Soccer Edges Past Southern Vermont College, 2-1

BENNINGTON, Vt. – Elms College senior midfielder Christina Goodchild (East Longmeadow, Mass.) scored the game-winner off a corner kick service from senior defender Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) in the 89^th minute of action to spark the Blazers to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Southern Vermont College in Saturday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's soccer game at Everett Field in Bennington, Vt.

With the win, Elms improves to 7-8-1 overall, 6-1-0 in conference play, while Southern Vermont moves to 5-6-1 on the season, 4-2-0 in conference action.  

Witaszek put the Blazers ahead, 1-0 in the first half when she blasted a free kick into the back of the net from 25 yards out to give Elms the advantage 27:06 into the contest.

Southern Vermont rallied back early in the second half when Lixsa Arlet Sandoval (Stockton, Calif.) found the net on a well struck ball from the top of the box to even the game at 1-1 in the 53^rd minute of action.

Elms, which edged the Mountaineers in shots on goal, 8-4, found the game-winning formula late in the contest when Witaszek lined up a corner kick and delivered a perfect service to Goodchild who finished with the score at the 88:22 mark to give the Blazers the hard-fought victory.

Elms' sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Rinaudo (Bellmore, N.Y.) earned the win with three saves, while counterpart Katie Raymond (Bristol, Conn.) turned away six shots in the losing effort for Southern Vermont.

Blazers' freshman midfielder Kylen O'Hearn (Somers, Conn.) took four shots on goal for Elms, while Kaitlyn Forant (Hardwick, Vt.) notched two shots on goal for the Mountaineers.

Elms returns to league action on Wednesday, October 23 when it hosts Daniel Webster College at 7:00 p.m. at Leary Field.