Women's Soccer Dismantles Daniel Webster

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms college senior Michelle Rossignol (Manchester, Conn.) logged her first career hat trick as the Blazers cruised past visiting Daniel Webster College, 7-0, in a rain-shortened New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) match at Leary Field Wednesday night. The Blazers improve to 13-3-1 on the season, and 7-1 in league play, while the Eagles dropped to 1-11-2 overall, and 0-6-2 in the NECC.

Intermittent heavy rains plagued action, resulting a halt of play in the 71^st minute of action.

The Blazers had a great chance to crack the scoreboard in the 15^th minute as back-to-back shots from Rossignol and sophomore Brie Voight (Springfield, Mass.) were denied by Daniel Webster freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Evans (Washington, Iowa) at point-blank range, keeping the match scoreless. With 21:34 remaining in the first half, the Blazers broke through as Rossignol gathered a loose ball in front of the goal, and laced a low shot past Evans' left side, staking Elms to a 1-0 lead.

The Blazers lead grew to 2-0 in the 33^rd minute on an own goal from the Eagles as a cross from freshman Danielle Asklar (Berlin, Conn.) was redirected by junior Sevonnah LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) off an Eagles defender and into the net. Less than two minutes later, Rossignol dribbled around a pair of defenders towards the front of the goal, and placed another low shot by Evans, making it 3-0. Elms maintained their 3-0 advantage into the intermission.

At the 43:34 mark of the second half, Rossignol recorded the hat trick, taking a pass from Voight, and ripping a shot under the crossbar, extending the Blazers advantage to 4-0. Less than 30 seconds later, Rossignol found Voight at the top of the box, where Voight launched a shot through Evans' and into the net, pushing the Elms lead to 5-0.

In the 56^th minute of play, sisters Sevonnah LaRochelle and sophomore Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) connected to make it a 6-0 lead as Sevonnah left a drop-back pass for Mackenzie, who fired the ball into the lower corner of the net. With 24:21 on the clock, freshman Angela Thibault (South Hadley, Mass.) recorded her first collegiate point, providing the assist while working a give-and-go with Sevonnah LaRochelle, sending Elms to the 7-0 victory.

The Blazers dominated the shot column over Daniel Webster, 37-0, during the contest. Elms senior keeper Alexa Rinaudo (Bellmore, N.Y.) registered her eighth shutout of the season in limited action, while Evans stopped a game-high 16 shots for the Eagles.

The Blazers will wrap up the regular season Saturday afternoon against Regis College at Leary Field at 1:30 p.m. Daniel Webster closes their season with a home tilt against Mitchell Saturday at Noon.

ELMS SOCCER