Fairbank's Hat Trick Highlights Win Over York

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's soccer team posted a 7-0 victory over York College (NY) on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference showdown at Alumni Field.

The Mariners remained unbeaten at home this season by scoring seven goals for the first time since the 2015 season. It also marked the program's largest margin of victory in seven years.

Lindsey Fairbank recorded a hat trick to lead the Mitchell offense while J'Naya Kelly and Natalie Delaluz each added a goal and an assist. Madison Nicynski also tallied in the game while goalkeepers Yordi Slover and Lindsey Robinson combined for six saves and the clean sheet.

Fairbank scored on a set piece just 2:45 into the contest to put the Mariners on top 1-0. She added her second goal in the 19th minute, finishing off a give-and-go with Delaluz that resulted in a shot from the top of the 18 that found the left corner. Kelly later scored with 15 seconds remaining in the half to make it a 3-0 game at the break.

The first 5:47 of the second half produced a flurry of goals, beginning with an own goal just 52 seconds into the stanza. Mariah Travisano served a ball into the box, and a York defender missed the clear and put the ball in her own net.

Minutes later, Kelly had the ball on the left end line and served a pass to the top of the six-yard box in front of the near post. Nicynski was there with her right foot to poke home her second goal of the season and make it a 5-0 game.

Fairbank completed the hat trick in the 50th minute, creating her own shot by dribbling down the field and cutting back twice against defenders. She unleashed a shot from inside the 18 that slipped under the crossbar for Mitchell's first hat trick since Taylor Saja scored three goals against Wheelock in 2016.

York's best chance at getting on the scoreboard came in the 51st minute on a penalty kick by Chelsea Vasquez, but Robinson held her ground and stopped the attempt to keep the shutout intact. Mitchell's counterattack then produced the final goal of the game as Delaluz netted her first collegiate goal off a mishandled cross by the York keeper.

Mitchell (3-5-0 overall) will next host Pine Manor College on Wednesday, October 2 at 3:30 p.m. York (0-7-0 overall) returns to action at home against Brooklyn College on Saturday, October 5 at noon.