SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – First year Suz Rose and senior forward Cassidy Robinson powered the Mount Holyoke College soccer team's offense to a 4-2 victory over Southern Vermont College on Saturday afternoon amid rainy conditions and chilly temperatures. The Lyons move to 2-3 on the season, while the visiting Mountaineers slip to 0-5.
The Lyons struck first in the opening half as Rose (South Hamilton, Mass./Hamilton-Wenham Regional) netted the first of her collegiate career in the fifth minute of the game. Off of a long cross from the neutral zone, Rose carried it up the right side, driving the ball in past a diving Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) in the Mountaineers goal.
Mount Holyoke continued to hold its early lead throughout the first half, unable to capitalize despite a 7-2 shot differential. Southern Vermont had several chances courtesy of sophomore midfielder Lauren Nesshoever (Rutland, Vt./Otter Valley Union), but the MHC defense, backed by senior keeper Mackenzie Randall (Harwinton, Conn./Forman) held strong.
In the second half, the Lyons were able to maintain their advantage until the 52nd minute, when Nesshoever finally broke through with her third of the season. Dribbling it up the field, Nesshoever won the battle with an MHC defender and fired a shot in on net that Randall, who had come off the line, was unable to get back into position for as Nesshoever's shot went straight down the middle and in.
The Lyons responded less than five minutes later as Robinson (Lebanon, N.H./Lebanon) collected a pass at the midfield and carried it through the zone. Her shot sailed into the upper right corner to make it a 2-1 game.
Robinson made it a 3-1 game for Mount Holyoke in the 79th minute as she found a loose ball from 10-yards out and sent it into the open right corner of the net, and Rose notched her second of the contest in the 80th minute. Following a point-to-point pass play from senior Kara Singleton (Parsonsfield, Maine/Sacopee Valley) to Robinson, Rose collected the final cross in the middle and sent it sailing into the right corner past the diving Mascari.
The Mountaineers pulled it to within two in the 81st minute as junior defender Jess Magee (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place) lobbed it into the back of the net through traffic, but it was as close as SVC would get.
MHC's defense played solid over the final 10 minutes, including Randall, who made one save in the victory to improve to 1-2 overall. Mascari shouldered the loss for the Mountaineers, making eight stops to move to 0-5.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday as Mount Holyoke hosts Western New England (6pm) and Southern Vermont travels to New England College (6pm).
Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography.
