Women’s Soccer Blanks Wheelock, Collier Earns First Career Shutout
QUINCY, Mass.- Eight different players registered a point as the Eastern Nazarene women's soccer team cruised to a 9-0 non-conference victory over Wheelock Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Lions rise to 4-1-0 overall with the win while the Wildcats slide to 0-5-0 on the year.
Senior goalkeeper Lara Collier (Boylston, N.Y.) stopped all three shots she faced to earn her first career clean sheet and victory.
Six different players found the back of the net for the home team in the win.
Eastern Nazarene got on the board early in the match, scoring in the third minute. Junior Jules Speno (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) intercepted a goal kick in the Wheelock end of the pitch and lofted a shot over the retreating goalkeeper and into the net.
The Lions doubled their lead to 2-0 in the seventh minute of play. Justine Buchanan (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) played a through-ball down the right wing for Speno to collect. Speno dribbled into the penalty area and fired a low shot into the lower left corner of the cage for her second of the day and team-leading seventh of the year.
The hosts tacked on their third goal of the match in the 11th minute. Abby Spitler (Gaithersburg, Md.) slotted the ball into the left side of the goal for her third tally of the season.
Eastern Nazarene added a goal in the 17th minute to stretch the margin to 4-0. Hannah Scahill (Quaker Hill, Conn.) dribbled down the right flank on a breakaway. After drawing the goalkeeper off of her line, Scahill slid a pass into the middle of the penalty box to Lawrence for an open-net score.
The Lions extended the gap to five in the 25th minute of the first half. Scahill knocked in a corner kick service from Victoria Ferland (Brooklyn, Conn.) for her third marker of the season.
Scahill netted her second goal of the game in the 42nd minute to push the home team's advantage to 6-0. Kayla Aragon (Dover, N.J.) sent a long pass into open space from her right back position and Scahill latched onto the through-ball. Scahill touched the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper before tapping it into the open goal.
Eastern Nazarene scored its seventh goal of the opening half in the final minute. Olivia McDermith (North Berwick, Maine) found the back of the net for her first collegiate marker after Scahill delivered a centering pass from the right side of the penalty area.
The Lions dominated the first period, outshooting the visitors 26-3.
In the 54th minute, Scahill completed the hat trick with her fifth of the season. McDermith put Scahill in alone on goal with a slotted pass. Scahill dribbled in on a breakaway before tucking the ball past the goalkeeper.
Eastern Nazarene widened the margin to nine in the second half as Ferland floated a shot into the cage from the right flank for her first collegiate tally. Aragon recorded her second helper of the afternoon on Ferland's goal in the 58th minute.
Rookie Meghan Lewis made eight saves in goal for the Wildcats on the day.
The Lions finished the match with 32 shots, including 17 on frame. The visitors recorded six shots in the contest with three aimed on goal.
Up next, Eastern Nazarene remains home as it welcomes Regis to Veterans Memorial Stadium for a non-conference bout September 17.