CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Lesley University women's soccer team started New England Collegiate Conference play with a 3-0 victory over Elms College in what was a rematch of the 2013 and 2014 conference title matches this evening at Edward Field. The Lynx improve to 4-5-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the NECC while the Blazers see their three game unbeaten streak come to an end as they fall to 5-2-1 and 0-1-0 in the league.
During halftime, the Lynx honored three members of the Class of 2010 with a jersey dedication. Cathryn Folkestad, Luisa Flores, and Hailee Lowe were members of Lesley's first NECC Championship team and carried a 47-27-6 record over their four years. In 2008, the helped the Lynx re-write the records books as the team was recognized as the most improved team in NCAA history. The trio were presented their game jersey's from the 2010 season.
Lesley senior Samantha Rapant (Pittsfield, Mass.) put the Lynx on the board in the 15th minute when she buried a rocket into the upper left corner of the goal to put the hosts up 1-0. Freshman Jordan Mitchell (Sachse, Texas) played a short corner kick to Rapant who took a touch just inside the left corner of the 18-yard box before connecting with her right foot for her first marker of the season.
The Lynx added a second goal in the 34th minute. Fellow senior Hayley Wirth (Escondido, Calif.) sent a booming free kick from just inside midfield that ducked just under the Blazer crossbar to give the hosts a 2-0 lead that they would take into halftime.
The Blazers best chance in the opening half came when junior Kathleen Tuechler (Farmingdale, N.Y.) put a free kick from midfield into the box, but after a short scrum, Lesley's backline was able to clear the threat.
Five minutes into play in the second half, Elms almost cut the lead in half off another free kick as sophomore Jackie Soucia (Belchertown, Mass.) sent a curling, line drive kick from thirty yards just over the crossbar.
The Lynx would add a second insurance goal in the 74th minute. Sophomore Karlie Rubin (San Diego, Calif.) played a perfect pass behind the Blazer's backline to freshman Jordan Mitchell (Sachse, Texas) who finished with a shot inside the far left post that would lift the Lynx to the 3-0 win.
The Lynx outshot their guests 12-4 on the day and held a 4-2 edge on corner kick opportunities.
Senior keeper Jackie Berard (Coventry, R.I.) made one stop to earn her third win of the season for Lesley while her counterpart, Alexa Rinaudo (Bellmore, N.Y.), made three saves in the loss.
The Lynx will return to the pitch on Monday when they travel to Suffolk University for a non-conference bout with the Rams at 6:45p while the Blazers will be back in action on Wednesday as they play host to Clark University at 7:30p.
