SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Mount Holyoke College tallied three goals in the second half, going on to win 4-2 over the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team Saturday afternoon amid rainy conditions and chilly temperatures.
The Lyons struck first in the opening half as freshman midfielder Suz Rose (South Hamilton, Massachusetts) 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 the hands of diving SVC freshman keeper Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, New York).
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, Vermont), but the MHC defense, backed by senior keeper Mackenzie Randall (Harwinton, Connecticut), 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. Nesshoever's shot went straight down the middle and in to make it 1-1.
The Lyons responded less than five minutes later as senior forward Cassidy Robinson (Lebanon, New Hampshire) 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 contest 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 then notched her second of the contest in the 80th minute. Following a point-to-point pass play from senior Kara Singleton (Parsonsfield, Maine) 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, New York) lobbed it into the back of the net through traffic, but that 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 (0-5) for the Mountaineers, making eight stops in the effort.
Both teams now look ahead to 6 p.m. matches on Tuesday, the Mountaineers (0-5) visiting New England College while the Lyons (2-3) host Western New England University.