Carlborg Powers Wellesley Soccer to 2-0 Victory Over Clark

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Sophomore Maddie Carlborg scored a goal in each half, coming off the bench to power Wellesley College soccer to a 2-0 victory over visiting Clark University in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Tuesday afternoon at the Wellesley Athletic Fields Complex. 

Wellesley otushot the visiting Cougars by a 22-0 margin, improving to 8-7-2 overall and grabbing a crucial NEWMAC victory to improve to 2-5-0 in the conference. Clark drops to 2-13-0 overall and 1-6-0 in NEWMAC play.

It looked like first year forward Melise Knowles had put the Blue on the board just twelve minutes into the contest when she beat Clark goalkeeper Gabby Paolini to her right, but the goal was called off due to a Wellesley foul. Paolini finished the contest with 7 saves.

The Blue would continue to press, eventually breaking through at 28:19 of the first half when Carlborg scored her first collegiate goal on an assist from Knowles. 

Sumner Hanula played a ball over the top of the Clark back line to Knowles in the penalty area. With a defender on her back, Knowles attempted to turn but was knocked to the turf. She then redirected the ball to Carlborg who powered a shot left of Paolini to make the score 1-0. 

In the second half, Darlene Dang beat Paolini on a curving shot in the opening six minutes of play but the junior's shot sailed off the post to the goalkeeper's right. 

The Blue would get their second goal of the day off of a cross from Mary Lou Ferguson. Ferguson broke free down the left flank of the field and delivered a ball to a sprinting Carlborg who volleyed it into the net to make the score 2-0 with 25:49 to play.

If not for the cross bar, Carlborg would have recorded her first career hat trick in the match. With just under six minutes remaining in the first half, it looked as if Carlborg had scored what would have been her third goal when she ripped a shot from the right of Paolini that crashed hard off the cross bar and out.

Both teams will continue their NEWMAC schedules on Saturday at 1:00 PM. The Blue will take on Smith in Northampton, MA, while Clark will host Wheaton.