Wellesley Soccer Blanks Coast Guard, 2-0

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Senior Melise Knowles (Diablo, Calif.) scored the game-winning goal and added an assist to lead Wellesley College soccer to a 2-0 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Friday night at Nitchman Field.

Wellesley improves to 2-1-0 in NEWMAC matches with the victory, while moving to 3-5-2 on the season. Coast Guard is now 4-5-0 overall and 1-2-0 in conference.

The Blue did all of their damage in the game's opening half, scoring two goals on seven shots to take a 2-0 lead before the half. Knowles scored the first of the game, and her third of the season, on an unassisted effort just 6:44 into the opening half.

Wellesley maintained the 1-0 advantage until the final minute of the half, when they doubled their lead. Knowles found sophomore Carley Phillips (Waterford, Conn.) of a rebound, Phillips then slid the ball past Coast Guard junior goalkeeper Rachel Boohar (Oxford, Pa.) at 44:26 to make the score 2-0. Phillips, who tallied a hat trick last season at Coast Guard, has now scored four of her 12 career goals at Nitchman Field.

The Bears managed five second half shots but could not find their way back into the contest. Wellesley sophomore Olivia Reckley (Grosse Ile, Mich.) tallied six saves to earn her second shutout of the season and improve to 3-5-2. Boohar (4-5-0) made eight saves in the setback. The visitors finished the game with a 14-10 advantage in shots. Corner kicks were even, 4-4, between the two sides.

Wellesley will have the weekend off before hosting Wheaton in NEWMAC play on Tuesday, October 3, at 4:00 PM. Coast Guard will play at Mount Holyoke on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.