Women’s Soccer Opens Conference Slate with 5-2 Win at Nichols

DUDLEY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's soccer team notched its first victory of the season Saturday afternoon, defeating Nichols in the league-opener on the road behind a three-goal performance by Kelly Couite (West Bridgewater, Mass.).

The Lions improve to 1-2-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with head coach Mackenzie Arment's first win at the helm. The Bison fall to 1-3-0 on the year and 0-1-0 in conference play.

The guests opened the scoring in the 25th minute as Katherine Lawrence (Marlborough, Conn.) rifled a shot into the top left corner of the cage. Alexis Schmidt (North Smithfield, R.I.) picked up her first assist of the season on Lawrence's first tally of the fall.

Eastern Nazarene doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 28th minute. Kayla Aragon (Dover, N.J.) crossed the ball into the penalty box and Annelise Sherrill (Elk Grove, Calif.) booted home her first collegiate goal.

In the 54th minute of play, Couite collected her first score of the season off of a feed by Lauren Hevy (North Brookfield, Mass.).

Couite added her second marker of the match in the 61st minute to widen Eastern Nazarene's gap to 4-0. The sophomore fired a left-footed shot from the left wing past the diving goalkeeper.

Nichols got on the board in the 71st minute to cut the deficit to 4-1. Meghan Dunn converted a penalty kick for her fourth tally of the season.

The Lions tacked on their fifth goal of the contest in the 80th minute as Couite completed the natural hat trick, finishing a shot into the lower right corner to restore the lead to four, 5-1.

The Bison found the back of the net in the 88th minute to trim the margin to 5-2. Dunn picked up her second score of the game and fifth of the year as she knocked in a rebound after Danielle Barry's initial shot was saved.

Eastern Nazarene concluded the match with 14 shots while Nichols registered 17 on the day.

Senior Kristen Farley (Westminster, Mass.) recorded eight saves as she earned her first win of the season.

Up next, the Lions will step out of conference to take on Wheelock September 14.