SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Goals from six different players helped Springfield College defeat the Mount Holyoke soccer team 7-0 in NEWMAC (New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference) action on Saturday. The Pride improve to 8-1-0 overall and 2-1-0 on conference play, while the Lyons fall to 2-7-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the NEWMAC.
First year midfielder Sara Swetland (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central) led the Pride with two goals, while both senior forward Mikaela Coady (Middletown, Conn./Middletown) and sophomore Mackenzie Luiz (Newington, Conn./Newington) each added a goal and a helper. In net, junior goalkeeper Izzy Inglese (Wolcott, Conn./Wolcott) earned the win, making three saves on three shots on goal.
For the Lyons, junior keeper Amanda Manaster (Beverly Hills, Calif./Beverly Hills) played 90:00 minutes, taking on 20 shots with 13 saves in the game. Junior midfielder Dale Leonheart (Petaluma, Calif./St. Vincent de Paul) was active with two shots on goal, while senior forward Sara Sanaú Ruiz (Zaragoza, Spain/P.P. Dominicos – Cardenal Xavierre) also added a shot on goal.
The Pride got out to a hot start in the first half with four goals from four different players, including a tally from junior forward Amanda Wright (Pittsfield, Mass./Pittsfield) heading into halftime. The Lyons had an opportunity on its only shot attempt in the first half when Leonheart made a solid free kick attempt, but Inglese was there to make the save.
In the second stanza, Springfield continued to put pressure on the Lyons as Swetland found the net for the second time, firing the ball past Manaster to go up 5-0. Sophomore Hannah Finn-Erb (Northampton, Mass./Northampton) had an opportunity to score as she dribbled the ball up the right flank with a defender on her hip. Finn-Erb beat her defender to fire off a shot, but it barely missed wide.
The Pride maintained momentum for the rest of the half, capping the game off with a penalty kick score from junior defender Aly Morell (New Britain, Conn./UHSSE) to take the win, 7-0.
Springfield will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting Clark at 7:00pm. Mount Holyoke will also be in action on Tuesday, concluding a three-game homestand against Coast Guard Academy at 6:00pm.
