McClendon Propels Women's Soccer to 3-0 Victory

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's soccer team earned a 3-0 victory in its season opener against Anna Maria College on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Mariners (1-0-0 overall) benefited from three goals from freshman Caley McClendon, who made quite a splash in her collegiate debut. The rookie scored her first goal just three minutes into the contest and had netted her third by the 26th minute. Anna Maria (0-2-0 overall) hung tough but couldn't overcome a 13-6 deficit in shots.

Mitchell jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after junior Shannen Pelletier slotted a ball up the middle of the field and found McClendon in perfect stride. With a one-on-one opportunity against the goalkeeper, McClendon calmly placed a shot into the lower left corner for her first career goal.

McClendon didn't waste much time before adding to her goal total, finding the back of the net once again in the 11th minute. The Mariners played a high ball into the box that took a big bounce and carried over the keeper's head. McClendon tracked it down and finished into the empty net to put Mitchell up 2-0.

The final goal came in the 26th minute on another one-one-one chance. McClendon's first attempt was a rocket that Anna Maria keeper Amanda Hevy deflected away, but she cleaned up the rebound into an open net to complete the hat trick.

Freshman Kaylee Woodford recorded one save in her first college action to record the clean sheet. Hevy finished with one save while starting keeper Tabitha Ruggeri also had one.

Mitchell will next host Pine Manor College on Wednesday, September 8 at 4 p.m.