Lesley Pulls Away In Second Half To Defeat Wellesley Soccer, 3-1

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Senior Karlie Rubin (San Diego, Calif.) scored a natural hat trick to lead visiting Lesley University to a 3-1 non-conference victory over Wellesley College soccer on Saturday at the Wellesley Fields Complex. 

Rubin's first three goals of the season helped lift the Lynx to their second win of the year, improving Lesley's record to 2-1-1. Wellesley is now 1-2-1, having dropped back-to-back contests. 

Wellesley senior Melise Knowles (Diablo, Calif.) scored her first goal of the season, and the 12th of her Wellesley career, to stake the Blue to a 1-0 lead at 26:21 of the first, finishing on a well-placed through ball from junior Gabriela Portilla (West Windsor, N.J.).  Wellesley carried the lead into the break, but in the second half the game belonged to Rubin and the Lynx.

The Lesley midfielder tied the contest less than five minutes into the second half, finishing out of a crowd of defenders to make the score 1-1 at 49:22. Junior Kai Morehead (Oxnard, Calif.) then set-up Rubin for her second at 79:00, as Rubin finished on a bouncing ball that beat Wellesley goalkeeper Olivia Reckley (Grosse Ile, Mich.). Rubin completed her hat trick with less than seven and a half minutes left in the game, knocking home a long shot from outside the penalty area on an assist from first year Sam Ring (Thousand Oaks, Calif.).

Lesley sophomore goalkeeper Brittley Gaan (Bellevue, Wash.) made six saves to pick up her first victory of the year (1-1-1). Reckley (1-2-1) finished with five saves for the Blue. Wellesley ended the match with a slight edge in total shots, 13-10, but the Lynx got more shots on frame, 8-7.

Both teams will be in action again on Tuesday, September 12, at 4:00 PM. Wellesley will host Endicott and Lesley will play on the road at Fitchburg St.