Mountaineers win sixth straight

2017 Oct 23

It has been 21 years since the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team won six-straight games; that mark was tied Monday afternoon as the Mountaineers defeated Mitchell College 3-0 in New England Collegiate Conference action at Alumni Field.

SVC scored all three of its goals in the opening 45 minutes while keeping the Mariners off the board for the Mountaineers' sixth-straight shutout. Southern Vermont has not allowed a goal in its last 585:35 of play.

The Mountaineers improve to 8-4 on the season and 3-1 in league play. That overall wins mark already ties the team's victory count from last year with four regular season games left to go - ensuring that SVC will finish the regular season with at least a .500 record.

Mountaineer freshman Jayne Wierzbicki scored the first two goals for the visitors before sophomore Taylor Mallett notched one of her own. Freshman Nicole Shapiro - who was named the latest NECC Rookie of the Week earlier in the day-assisted on the team's second goal of the match.

SVC senior goaltender Melissa Mascari made three saves as her 22nd career shutout improved her season record to 8-4. Between her play between the pipes and Southern Vermont's tough defensive showings, the team currently has an impressive 0.66 goals against average for the year.

The Mountaineers shot early and often in the first half with the visitors taking seven attempts at net before getting one past the Mitchell keeper. A throw-in from the MC end of the field went off a Mariner defender, and Wierzbicki cleaned it up for what proved to be her fourth game-winning goal of the year in the 19th minute.

Less than 10 minutes later, Wierzbicki struck again when her classmate connected a pass in the box. Wierzbicki took the Shapiro slot at the right side of the box and let it go into the back of the net for her team-leading ninth goal of the year and the 2-0 advantage.

SVC added another piece of insurance in the 39th minute when a pair of sophomores linked up. Ashley Blom served it in to the top of the six-yard box, and Mallett fought through the traffic to get up and head the ball home for her fourth goal of the season. The Mountaineers allowed just a single shot on goal the rest of the way for them to finish the league victory and another shutout; the clean sheet ties Mascari's personal single-season record and puts her one shy of tying the program's high for a campaign.

Southern Vermont's winning streak will be well-tested on Saturday when the team returns to action with a 1 p.m. NECC home game against Elms College; the Blazers have won each of their 10 all-time meetings with SVC.