SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Emerson College scored a pair of goals less than three minutes apart and the Lions defense held strong to post a 2-1 win over Mount Holyoke College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Emerson is now 4-5-0 and 1-1-0 in conference play, while the Lyons slip to 4-4-0 and 0-2-0 in the NEWMAC.
After a scoreless opening half that saw MHC hold a 3-2 edge in shots, Emerson got the scoring started in the 67th minute. Sophomore forward Jess Frost (Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes) got the play started, fighting pass a defender just inside the zone.
Frost sent the ball toward the right side to classmate and forward Paige Haley (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic), who kicked it toward the top middle of the box. Lyons keeper Zoe Marshall (Mississauga, Ont./Cawthra Park Secondary School) came out the cover the ball, but junior midfielder Alexandra Levin (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) rushed in and lobbed it out of reach and into the open net.
The visiting Lions upped the advantage to two in the 70th minute on an outstanding individual effort by Frost. Corralling a quick pass, Frost backed into and turned away from a defender on the left side. She dribbled the ball into the box toward middle, beating out another MHC player, before firing the ball through the Lyons defense. The shot caught Marshall out of position for an open shot into the left corner of the net.
Mount Holyoke got onto the scoreboard in the 88th minute, however, as first year midfielder Cora Melcher (Portland, Maine/Casco Bay) carried the ball down the right side, lobbing a high shot toward middle. Classmate and forward Hannah Finn-Erb (Northampton, Mass./Northampton) came speeding down center past an Emerson defender. She dribbled back toward the right before unleashing a high shot, which sailed in on goal past the diving Lions keeper.
For the game, Emerson held an 11-10 edge in shots, including and 8-5 margin on goal. MHC owned a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Senior goalie Melanie Escobar (Torrington, Conn./Chesire Academy) earned the victory, stopping four shots on the afternoon. Marshall shouldered the loss for the homestanding Lyons, making six saves.
Mount Holyoke concludes its three-game homestand on Tuesday when it hosts Bay Path at 6pm. Emerson opens a three-game home series of its own on Wednesday, opening with Pine Manor at 6pm.
Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography.
