Lyons Fall 6-0 In Non-Conference Action On Wednesday

Minerva Veeser-Bobea

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – A pair of goals from forwards Emily Ribatt and Katie Frizzell helped Wesleyan University defeat Mount Holyoke College 6-0 in non-conference soccer action on Wednesday. The Cardinals improved to 3-1-1 with the win, while the Lyons fall to 2-5-0.

To go along with Ribatt's (Chesnut Hill, Mass./Brookline) two goals, the first year also added on two assists. Juniors Lauren Goetzman (Hidden Hills, Calif./Sierra Canyon School) and Mo Nelson (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge and Latin) each added goals as well for the visitors. In net, sophomore keeper Meg Hanan (Sammamish, Wash./Issaquah) made one save on the night.

For Mount Holyoke, senior forward Sara Sanaú Ruiz had the lone shot on goal in the match. In net, junior goalkeeper Amanda Manaster (Beverly Hill, Calif./Beverly Hills) had her most active night of the season, taking on 20 shots and making a career-high 14 saves. Manaster currently sits second in the NEWMAC in saves.

With a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute of the first half, first year Carly Bechtloff (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) stole the ball at midfield and dropped a pass onto the foot of Ribatt, who then kicked it past the reach of Manaster to go up 2-0. Just seconds later, Ribatt scored again after a feed from junior defender Kayla O'Brien (Wilton, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall) to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

The Lyons had its best chance to score in the first half after a free-kick opportunity from nearly midfield by junior defender Avia Jacobs (Calabasas, Calif./Sierra Canyon) headed towards Sanaú Ruiz's direction just outside the box. Sanaú Ruiz leaped over two defenders to attempt a header, but Hanan was there for the save.

In the second stanza, the Cardinals controlled the game outshooting the Lyons 12-0. Five minutes into the second half, Nelson extended the lead to 5-0 with a header off of a free-kick from Ribatt. Three minutes later, Frizzell notched her second point of the game to extend the lead to 6-0. Despite solid defense from the Lyons for the remainder of the half, the Cardinals took the victory.

Both teams will resume conference action on Saturday. Mount Holyoke will be back on the road against Wellesley at 1:00pm, while Wesleyan will be home against Bates at 11:00am.