BENNINGTON, Vt. — The Southern Vermont College women's soccer team started the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) schedule on the right foot Saturday afternoon, defeating Daniel Webster College 6-0 at Everett Field during SVC's Family Weekend.
Four Mountaineers each scored their first goal of the season in the victory, two of those being by SVC freshmen. Junior Lauren Nesshoever (Chittenden, Vt.) and freshman Molly Madore (Higganum, Conn.) had a goal and an assist apiece while helping Southern Vermont move to an even 4-4 on the season (1-0 NECC).
The Mountaineers have the week off, resuming play next Saturday, October 3 when they visit Newbury College for a 12 p.m. NECC showdown. Daniel Webster (1-5, 0-1 NECC) looks ahead to its non-conference tilt on Tuesday when the Eagles host Green Mountain College at 4 p.m.
SVC had its chances in the early going, including a breakaway on a nice through pass that was banged off the right post from the foot of Madore. The Mountaineers' control of the game would quickly pay off as a loose ball through the DWC box was eventually met by sophomore Chelsea Zukowski (Beacon, N.Y.) on the right side of the frame; the Mountaineer fired it into the back of the net, her second collegiate tally putting Southern Vermont ahead 1-0 in the 12th minute.
SVC added to its lead shortly after when Madore assisted Nesshoever for the third time this season. The duo played a nice overlap on the left side that saw Madore slot it through the DWC defensive line, allowing Nesshoever to run on and bring the ball through an open penalty area before putting her fifth of the season into the back of the net.
Southern Vermont would add two more before the break, the first being when Madore finished on a crossing pass from the left by freshman Ally McNamee (Freehold, N.J.) in the 33rd minute of the match. Sophomore Natalie Rose Canterbury (New Hartford, Conn.) added her first of the year with 2:01 left in the half when she cleaned up a rebound off a saved shot by Southern Vermont sophomore Paige Vitale (Greenville, N.Y.).
Following halftime, freshman Lisa Jones (Glasgow, Scotland) registered the first goal in program history by a Bennington College student when she flicked home a great shot in the middle of the box, finishing on a cross by Nesshoever from the left side of the field. McNamee then tallied her first collegiate goal in the 63rd minute, putting her team up 6-0 on a ball in from the left side that was deflected off the Eagle keeper.
Mountaineer sophomore goalie Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and freshman teammate Carissa Bottisti (Amsterdam, N.Y.) each played 45 minutes in net for a collective shutout while not facing a shot in the win. DWC freshman tender Stephanie Evans (Washington, Iowa) totaled 18 saves on the day in the effort.