Box Score Box Score
NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Jenna BiCierro netted her first collegiate goal and
Lindsey Gregor (Bradenton, Fla./Southeast) was solid between the pipes as the Smith College soccer team began life under Kristin Shaw with a convincing 4-0 win over the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Smith (1-0) outshot the Trailblazers (0-2) by a 20-7 margin, and put MCLA starting goalie Jen Wehner under constant pressure right from the outset.
Ellie Theurer (Gainesville, Fla./Oak Hall) almost opened the scoring in the third minute, with a one-on-one attempt against Wehner, only to see her shot crash against the underside of the bar without crossing the line.
Theurer again nearly broke the deadlock, but put a header wide from Kaitlin Johnson's corner kick in the 15th minute. Smith made the breakthrough 17 minutes later -
Aidan Hitt (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) sent in a corner from the left side, and after
Chelby Wakefield (East Longmeadow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson)'s initial shot was saved by Wehner, BiCierro was on hand to slot home a loose ball in the box for a 1-0 lead.
Smith would carry the 1-0 lead into halftime, but would double their advantage three minutes into the half. After Gregor stopped Lauren Fender at the other end,
Cara Gubbins (Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) was taken down in the box, and
Jenn Chang (Seoul, South Korea/Wilbraham & Monson) made no mistake to send Danielle Heinsohn the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Trailblazers' best chance of the second half came when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty box, but Brianna Bresett fired over the goal.
Theurer finally got on the scoresheet in the 65th minute. Racing in on goal, Heinsohn came out, but could not collect the ball, and Theurer galloped forward to find the net from a very tight angle. Chang rounded out the scoring in the 81st minute with her second spot kick of the game.
Gregor made four saves to record her first shutout of the season, while Wehner and Heinson combined to make eight saves for MCLA.
Smith will next be in action on Saturday, September 10, when they host Lyndon State College in a 2 p.m. matchup. MCLA will also play on Saturday, hosting Bard College in a 4 p.m. tilt.
