BENNINGTON, Vt.- The first 15 minutes of Thursday afternoon's Women's Soccer match up between the visiting New England College Pilgrims and the Southern Vermont College Mountaineers was even. Then Alex Hytner played a 30 yard diagonal through ball to Kristen Walker who ran onto the ball and finished it home, to give NEC a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later the Pilgrims struck again when Veronica Hytner ripped a shot upper 90 from 18 yards out.

The two goals were all that the Pilgrims could put away however, against a tough Mountaineer defense. The Mountaineers defense faced 11 shots on goal and relied on goalkeeper Catrina Cecchini to make nine saves. NEC keeper Alyssa Whitcomb earned the shutout, only making one save on a Taylor Grover header.

New England College will take on conference opponent Castleton State next as the Mountaineers travel to NECC opponent Mitchell College. The Mountaineers fell to 1-5 with today's loss as the Pilgrims improved to 4-3-1.