SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – First year Hannah Finn-Erb scored in the 62nd minute and the Mount Holyoke College soccer team defense prevailed in a 1-0 victory over Albertus Magnus College on Tuesday evening. With the win, the Lyons move to 4-3-0 on the season, while the Falcons slip to 2-4-1 overall.
The lone goal of the contest was set up in outstanding fashion as sophomore Sara Sanaú Ruiz (Zaragoza, Spain/P.P. Dominicos-Cardenal Xavierre) battled past triple coverage near the left post just inside the box. She broke free of one defender, clipping a shot in toward the middle. Speeding into the middle, Finn-Erb (Northampton, Mass./Northampton) lobbed a high-arching shot over the reach of keeper Lexie Fenn (Oakville, Conn./Watertown) for the go-ahead.
The Lyons played staunch defense over the remainder of the frame, fending off a 7-1 shot advantage in the half to hold on for the victory. Albertus Magnus had a number of solid chances in the second stanza as well, including a shot less than three minutes in by senior midfielder Danielle Polvan (East Haven, Conn./East Haven).
Carrying the ball down the right flank, Polvan barreled past a pair of Lyons' defenders, rocketing a clear shot in on goal. MHC keeper Zoe Marshall (Mississauga, Ont./Cawthra Park Secondary School) was up to the task, making a great catch to hold off the Falcons.
The visitors had several other shots on Marshall prior to the goal, including attempts by junior forward Alexya Alves (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck) and senior midfielder Liz Nagy (Meriden, Conn./Maloney).
Both teams had solid chances in the opening stanza as the Falcons held a 10-7 advantage in shots, including 3-2 on goal. Mount Holyoke nearly got on the board in the 26th minute as junior Jentrie Grissom (North Ogden, Utah/Weber) barreled down the right side, sending a cross into the middle. First year Cora Melcher (Portland, Maine/Casco Bay) was the intended target, but was a step to late as the ball sailed wide.
The Falcons had a pair of late corner attempts, but shots from Polvan and first year Erin Daly (Seymour, Conn./Platt Technical) went wide to close out the scoreless frame.
MHC saw Marshall record eight saves to earn the victory, while Albertus Magnus saw Fenn make three stops. The visitors also held a 17-8 advantage in shots, but the Lyons owned a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.
The Lyons continue their three-game homestand on Saturday, welcoming Emerson at 1pm. Albertus Magnus returns to play on Wednesday at home against Mitchell at 6pm.
Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography.
