LEICESTER, Mass. — A score in each half combined with stellar defense and goaltending gave way for the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team to defeat Becker College 2-0 Tuesday evening in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action at Alumni Field.

SVC improves to 8-5-1 on the year, tying its win total from last season; the team now holds a 4-1-1 record against the league.

Both goals were scored by Mountaineer freshmen, the first being from Molly Madore (Higganum, Conn.). The tally was the 13th overall on the year for the rookie, giving her a share of the Conference lead, and her second game winner of the season. Classmate Ally McNamee (Freehold, N.J.) then added her second of the year in the 51st minute to provide SVC with an insurance tally.

Southern Vermont sophomore keeper Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) turned away 11 Hawk shots for her third shutout of the year (6-5-1).

The Mountaineers are back at home on Saturday for their Pink Out and Senior Day, welcoming Regis College to Everett Field for a 1 p.m. league start.

The win makes SVC 3-1 in its last four meetings against Becker and is the second consecutive victory for the Mountaineers after they defeated BC 1-0 in the NECC playoffs a season ago.

Southern Vermont got on the board when freshman Naya Cerda (West Islip, N.Y.) split the Hawks' defense with a pass to Madore; she shot the ball past the dive of Jardyn Martel (Chicopee, Mass.) for the Mountaineers to go on top with just 10:47 left to go in the opening period.

McNamee gave SVC a 2-0 edge when she took advantage of turnover 5:23 after the intermission, bringing the ball down the far sideline before finding the back of the net with her left foot from 15 yards.

Mascari and the Mountaineer defense were able to keep the Hawks off the board throughout the rest of the contest, picking up the league victory to keep their great road record intact. SVC is now 6-1-1 when playing away from its home pitch, the only loss being an early season tournament defeat at a neutral site.