Women's Soccer Blanks Wheelock Behind Voight's Hat Trick

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College women's soccer team registered their 12^th victory of the season, their highest win total since the 2006 season, with a 5-0 shutout victory over Wheelock College in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) matchup at Leary Field Saturday evening. With the win, the Blazers improve to 12-3-1 overall, and 6-1 in NECC play, while Wheelock drops to 1-6 in the conference, and 2-12 on the season.

The Blazers opened the scoring in the 18^th minute of play as sophomore Brie Voight (Springfield, Mass.) fired home a cross from sophomore Jackie Soucia (Belchertown, Mass.) to stake Elms to a 1-0 lead. Just over eight minutes later, freshman Danielle Asklar (Berlin, Conn.) played a ball to the front of the Wildcat net, finding the foot of Voight, who beat Wheelock sophomore goalie Amarielis Morales (Dorchester, Mass.), putting the Blazers up 2-0.

Voight completed a first half hat trick in the 28^th minute of play as senior Michelle Rossignol (Manchester, Conn.) launched a ball from midfield to Voight, who beat her defender one-on-one, and then ripped a shot past Morales, giving Elms a 3-0 advantage. The Blazers carried the 3-0 lead into the intermission.

Elms continued their offensive momentum in the second half as sophomore Angelina Estrada (Springfield, Mass.) netted an unassisted strike in the opening minute of play, extending the Blazers lead to 4-0 with 44:10 remaining. Elms capped their scoring in the 64^th minute as junior Rachel Mick (Granby, Mass.) swung a loose ball to the wing, where Soucia dribbled towards the far post and whistled a shot through Morales' hands and into the net, securing the 5-0 victory for Elms.

The Blazers dominated the shot column, 39-1, during the contest. Elms senior Alexa Rinaudo (Bellmore, N.Y.) and junior Meeghan O'Connor (Fall River, Mass.) combined for the shutout with O'Connor registered the Blazers lone save. Morales stopped 16 shots for Wheelock in the loss.

Elms will look to move their win streak to six games when they host Daniel Webster in NECC action on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Wheelock hosts Mitchell College in an NECC tilt Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

ELMS SOCCER