NEW LONDON, Conn. - Five different Pilgrims found the back of the net as the New England College women's soccer team secured its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory of the season with a commanding 5-0 win over Mitchell College Saturday afternoon.
NEC wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as freshman Ava Hudson (Springvale, Maine) connected with fellow freshman Grace Houde (New Boston, N.H.) to give the Pilgrims an early 1-0 lead. Eight minutes later, freshman Stella-Blue Kraus (East Greenwich, R.I.) scored her first collegiate goal to double the visitors' advantage. Hudson struck again shortly, finishing a feed from junior Michelina Follis (Saugus, Mass.) to make it 3-0. The Pilgrims continued their offensive surge as freshman Maddy Day (Westmoreland, N.H.) found the back of the net to extend NEC's lead to 4-0 heading into halftime.
The 'Grims maintained the pressure in the second half, generating chances through Houde, Follis, and junior Abbey Keyes (Dedham, Mass.), but Mitchell goalkeeper Ronnie Keays turned aside the attempts. In the 70th minute, senior Kalie Villagomez (Wichita, Kan.) added to the lead with her first collegiate goal, bringing the score to 5-0. The Mariners threatened late, but sophomore goalkeeper Estrella Michaelidis (Dedham, Mass.) made her lone save of the afternoon to preserve the shutout and seal the conference victory.
Five different Pilgrims scored in the win, with Hudson and Houde leading the offensive effort with a goal and an assist apiece.
The Pilgrims return home to continue GNAC play, hosting Elms College on Tuesday at 7:00 PM.
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