Second Half Goals Push WSoccer Past Newbury

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's soccer team scored a pair of second half goals to come away with a 4-2 victory over Newbury College on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at Alumni Field.

Junior Breanna Poirier scored goals in the 78th and 85th minutes to put the Mariners (2-10-0 overall, 2-5-0 NECC) on top for good. Sophomores Katie McBride and Alexandra Mahar also added markers in the first half for Mitchell, which kept its NECC postseason hopes alive with the win. Carly Gibbard and Niki Pelliccio each recorded goals in the first half for the Nighthawks (3-8-0 overall, 3-4-0 NECC).

Mitchell took a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes of the contest after McBride was fouled from behind while attempting a shot in the penalty box. The Mariners were awarded a penalty kick, and McBride stepped up and buried her third goal of the season into the left corner.

Nearly nine minutes later, Mahar netted her third goal of the season from a tough angle from the right side of the goal. Her initial shot hit off a defender, but the rebound bounced right back to her and a second attempt found the netting.

Newbury got on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when Nicole Kaufman played a long ball over the defense and Gibbard tracked it down to finish for her fourth goal of the season. Five minutes later, the Nighthawks tied the game at 2-2 when Pelliccio picked up her third goal of the year by cleaning up a loose ball that rattled around inside the box following a Newbury corner kick.

The two sides went into the halftime intermission locked at 2-2, and for a while it looked as though neither would score again in regulation. Mahar had shots hit off the post and crossbar in the second period, and all three of Newbury's attempts on goal were denied by senior goalkeeper Kaylee Woodford.

The Mariners finally broke through with less than 13 minutes to play when junior Madeline Crow served up a corner kick that Poirier volleyed out of midair from in front of the goal for the go-ahead score. She then gave Mitchell an insurance goal just seven minutes later, finishing on a loose ball inside the box.

Woodford recorded four saves against nine shots while Newbury goalkeeper Elizabeth Fox made seven stops against 25 shots.

The Mariners wore pink uniforms for the game in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Each player and coach also dedicated the match to a loved one who has battled the disease.

Mitchell will next play at Wheelock College on Wednesday, October 23 at 3 p.m.