Soccer Stuns Springfield, 2-0
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Oct. 13, 2009) – Led by sophomore midfielder Mary Cooke, the Mount Holyoke College women’s soccer team picked up a stunning 2-0 triumph over national power Springfield College this afternoon at the Mount Holyoke Soccer Field. Cooke figured in on both Mount Holyoke goals, scoring one and assisting on the other. It was the Lyons second ever victory over the Pride and their first since the 2003 season, when they prevailed 3-1.
With its first New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory of the season, Mount Holyoke snapped an eight match losing slide. Meanwhile, Springfield suffered its first league setback of the 2009 campaign. The Pride entered the contest riding a five match unbeaten streak. They are receiving votes in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III National Poll.
The Lyons jumped out to a 1-0 advantage at the 16:17 mark, when senior forward Lauren Orr received a short pass from Cooke in the box and slipped a shot past Springfield first year goalkeeper Erin Greenstein. Orr’s first goal of the year proved to be the sixth match winner of her career.
Cooke then found the back of the net in the 47th minute to push Mount Holyoke’s cushion to 2-0. After stealing the ball from a Pride defender, she took a few steps and ripped a shot past Greenstein from just outside the box. It was her team leading second tally of the year.
From there, Springfield controlled play but was unable to place a shot past Lyons first year goalkeeper Ingibjörg Magnúsdóttir. The Pride fell despite a 24-13 edge in shots, including a 13-5 advantage in the second stanza. Magnúsdóttir made ten saves en route to her first career shutout. At the other end, Greenstein turned away seven shots in a losing effort.
Both squads will resume their NEWMAC slates on Saturday. Mount Holyoke (2-10-0, 1-4-0 NEWMAC) is scheduled to visit Babson at noon, while Springfield (7-3-3, 2-1-2 NEWMAC) is set to host Wellesley College at 1:00 p.m.