Women's Soccer Eliminated by Top-Seeded Elms

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The top-seeded Elms College women's soccer team rolled to a 6-0 victory over visiting Mitchell College in the first round of the 2016 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship at Leary Field on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Blazers improved to 16-3-1 on the season and advanced to the semifinals to face fifth-seeded Bay Path University. The Mariners wrapped up the 2016 campaign with a 2-14-0 mark.

The Blazers wasted little time cracking the scoreboard as Lexi Vieira chased a ball down the sideline and then delivered a cross to the front of the net. Brie Voight was there to chip a shot past Mitchell goalkeeper Jordan Lohneiss to give Elms the 1-0 lead.

In the sixth minute of action, the Mariners knocked away a cross from Elms' Mackenzie LaRochelle, but Jackie Soucia gathered the loose ball and tucked a shot past Lohneiss to make it 2-0. Just over five minutes later, Soucia launched a corner kick to the front of the net where Kathleen Tuechler delivered the finish to hand the Blazers a 3-0 lead.

Elms posted its final tally of the first half at the 1:52 mark as Madison Jung battled for a ball and then lofted a cross towards the net. Rachel Connell swooped in and knocked the ball to the back of the net, staking the Blazers to a 4-0 lead at the half.

The Blazers carried their momentum into the second frame, adding to their advantage in the 51st minute as Angelina Estrada blasted home a one-timer off a ball from LaRochelle to build a 5-0 lead. Elms netted the final strike of the day as Voight ripped a shot off the post, but Kelsey Shea collected the rebound and fired a shot to the upper corner, sending the Blazers to the 6-0 victory.

The Blazers dominated the shot column, 36-0, during the contest. Elms goalkeeper Rebecca Molin didn't face a shot as she collected her school record-setting 13th shutout of the season, while Lohneiss made a match-high 14 saves for Mitchell in the loss.