HENNIKER, N.H. — New England College women's soccer freshman forward Sara Locke (Springfield, Vermont) netted two goals Tuesday evening, lifting the Pilgrims past the visiting Southern Vermont College Mountaineers 3-0 in non-conference action.

The two teams would battle through the opening 32 minutes scoreless before the Pilgrims broke the drought. Lauren Smith (Nashua, New Hampshire) would take advantage of a Mountaineer hand ball in the box and finish on the penalty kick opportunity to put NEC up 1-0.

New England tacked on an additional score right before halftime as Locke would notch her first collegiate goal, putting in a feed from Sara Culhane (Parker, Colorado) in the 40th minute of play.

The Pilgrims tallied their final goal of the evening in the 62nd minute of play as Locke netted her second of the game, finishing a cross from Smith.

Southern Vermont junior Jess Magee (South Beach, New York) and senior Lixsa Arlet Sandoval (Stockton, California) each registered a shot for the Mountaineers.

Picking up the win in net for NEC was Tricia Sardagnola (Shrewsbury, Mass.) who finished with two saves to move to 5-1 on the season.  In goal for Southern Vermont was freshman Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) who stopped 11 Pilgrim shots in the loss (0-6)

Southern Vermont (0-6) will next hit the field on Saturday as Green Mountain College visits the SVC campus for a 1 p.m. kickoff. NEC (6-1) returns to action on Saturday when the Pilgrims open North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play, traveling to Maine Maritime Academy for a 3:30 p.m. start.