Women's Soccer Nabs Third-Straight Win, Bests Nichols 3-1

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to seven matches as it defeated Nichols 3-1 Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Lions improve to 5-5-2 overall and 2-0-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Bison drop to 3-6-2 on the year and 0-4-0 in league play.

The hosts struck early in the contest, netting the first goal of the afternoon just 3:30 after the opening whistle. Sophomore Gabby Humphreys (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) latched onto the end of a corner kick service from Maleesa Santos (Colonie, N.Y.). Humphreys headed in her first tally of the season to give Eastern Nazarene a 1-0 lead.

Nichols quickly responded with an equalizer just two minutes later. Julie Monroe scored her second goal of the year to knot the match at 1-1. Monroe sailed a free kick over the head of the Lions' goalkeeper in the sixth minute.

Eastern Nazarene held a commanding 10-1 advantage in shots through 45 minutes while also owning a 3-1 margin in corner kicks.

The Lions broke the deadlock in the 49th minute, grabbing a 2-1 edge. After a foul at the top of the penalty area, Jules Speno (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) rifled the direct free kick into the left corner of the cage for her team-leading fifth marker of the season.

The home side added an insurance goal in the 52nd minute as Tina Corey (Canterbury, Conn.) picked up her second goal of the 2012 campaign, heading in a free kick lofted into the box by Santos.

Eastern Nazarene finished the game with a 19-3 gap in shots and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Kristen Farley (Westminster, Mass.) registered one save in goal for the Lions en route to her fourth win of the season. Melissa Toomey made seven stops between the pipes for the Bison on the day.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will host Roger Williams at Veterans Memorial Stadium October 6 in a battle of the conference's top two teams. Both squads head into the match sporting a 3-0-1 league mark.