Women's Soccer Blanks Southern Maine In Home Opener

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College women's soccer team downed visiting Southern Maine 2-0 in their 2016 home opener at Leary Field Saturday afternoon. With the win the Blazers improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Huskies fall to 1-1.

Elms started off hot on the attack with junior Angelina Estrada (Springfield, Mass.) blasting the first shot attempt of the contest a minute into play, to which Southern Maine keeper Taylor Canastra (Fairhaven, Mass.) quickly defended. However, the Blazers were able to crack the scoreboard at the 9:42 mark after junior Jackie Soucia (Belchertown, Mass.) lofted a corner to the front of the net where senior Kathleen Tuechler (Farmingdale, N.Y.) headed home the ball, posting the 1-0 advantage. The Blazers continued to hold the lead despite Huskie efforts as Southern Maine pushed up the field firing three shots during the first half off the feet of Alexa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) and Ariana Davidson (Windham, Maine). With five minutes remaining in the first half, Elms junior Brie Voight (Springfield, Mass.) took charge and displayed her speed off of a through ball from midfield and found the back of the net on a breakaway, sending the Blazers into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

Starting off the second, the Huskies continued to fight defending three Blazer shot attempts within the first five minutes of action. Elms continued to ring up the shot column while playing solid in the defensive slot posting six shots throughout the duration of the second. The Huskies received a solid chance to enter the scoring column when a hand ball in the box landed Davidson a penalty opportunity at the 87:34 mark. However, Davidson sailed the attempt over the crossbar maintaining the Blazers 2-0 advantage that they would nurse until the final buzzer.

The Blazers controlled the shot column during the match, 12-6, over Southern Maine. Freshman Rebecca Molin (West Hartford, Conn.) logged her first career clean sheet and made five saves for Elms, while Canastra captured five saves as well in the loss.

The Blazers return to the pitch Wednesday with a road trip to Albertus Magnus for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff, while the Huskies face off against Maine-Farmington Wednesday with a 1:00 p.m. slate.

ELMS SOCCER