SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – First half goals from sophomore defender Avia Jacobs and junior forward Jamie Collings lifted the Lyons to a 2-0 victory over Wesleyan University on Saturday. Mount Holyoke improves to 2-2-0 with the win, while the Cardinals slip to 1-1-0.
In the first half, the Lyons took advantage of an early possession making it past the Cardinal defenders. Jacobs (Calabasas, Calif./Sierra Canyon) gained control of the ball and fired a shot from deep center field, placing the ball right outside first year goalkeeper Claire Coyle's (Wynnewood, Pa./Harriton) reach for the first score of the game.
With time winding down in the opening half, sophomore forward Sara Sanaú Ruiz (Zaragoza, Spain/P.P. Dominicos – Cardenal Xavierre) put pressure on the Wesleyan defense, getting a shot off that hit the top crossbar. The ensuing rebound bounced out to Collings (Gainsville, Fla./Eastside) who was in perfect position to knock it in for the tally.
MHC's senior keeper and captain, Zoe Marshall (Mississauga, Ont./Cawthra Park Secondary School), who would earn the victory, made two saves in the first half.
The Lyons had an opportunity to score early in the second stanza when Collings came storming in for the steal at midfield. In a two-on-two situation with Ruiz, Collings passed it from the outside, to the center of the field where Ruiz took a shot right outside the box. Wesleyan keeper Zoe Cassels-Brown (Bristol. Vt./Mount Abraham Union) made a great diving save to stop the MHC score.
Sophomore defender Ella Sinfield (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica) created a chance for the Cardinals in the 69th minute with a nicely placed cross right in front of the net where two Cardinals were waiting. Wesleyan was not able to gain complete control before sophomore goalkeeper Amanda Manaster (Beverly Hills, Calif./Beverly Hills) jumped on the ball.
MHC made its last attempt in the 77th minute as Ruiz gave a beautiful lead pass to Collings on the breakaway. Cassels-Brown was there to make another diving save.
Manaster made five saves in the second half for Mount Holyoke, while Cassels-Brown had two. Coyle shouldered the loss for Wesleyan, surrendering both goals with no saves.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Tuesday as it continues its home stand against Western New England at 6:00pm. Wesleyan also returns to play on Tuesday taking on Albertus Magnus in a home bout at 4:30pm.
Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography.
