Blue Take NEWMAC Opener With 2-1 Win at Coast Guard

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- First year Marleigh Ausbrooks (Washington, D.C.) and sophomore Ella Pierce (Camden, Maine) each netted a goal to lead Wellesley College soccer to a 2-1 victory over Coast Guard Academy in the teams New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener.

It was the second goal of the season for Ausbrooks and first of the career for Pierce, as the Blue improve to 3-0-0 overall and 1-0 in NEWMAC play. Coast Guard falls to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the NEWMAC.

With not many scoring opportunities for the Blue in the first 20 minutes of the contest, Wellesley finally found its chance. After a nice steal and dish from junior Eliza Roy (Camden, Maine), Ausbrooks sent in a strike and gave Wellesley a 1-0 lead. It was the second assist of the season for Roy, upping her to eight total points.

Just over the 32 minute mark of the first half, Coast Guard's Sidney Palinkas (Hartland, Conn.) tied the game at 1-1 with her first goal of the year. The assist was credited to junior Anna Carleton (Huntington Beach, Calif.) of the Bears. The game went into halftime all square at one a piece.

Later in the second half, the Blue found its game winning goal from sophomore Ella Pierce. It was the first goal of the season and career for the sophomore forward. The play was set up by teammate Alyssa Ing (Irvine, Calif.), who earned her first career assist.

Wellesley returns home for a NEWMAC match with Springfield College on Saturday, September 25, at 1:00 PM. Coast Guard will head out of conference and take on in-state rival Wesleyan on Tuesday, September 21, at 6:00 PM.