Foster Nets Hat Trick as Blue Soccer Downs WPI, Clinches Playoff Spot
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WPI (3-12-1, 1-6-1 NEWMAC) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Wellesley (4-10-3, 3-5 NEWMAC) | 1 | 4 | 5 |
WELLESLEY, Mass. – Sophomore defender LJ Foster netted an improbable hat trick leading the Wellesley soccer team to a 5-1 victory over NEWMAC-rival WPI on Saturday.
The win, coupled with a Mount Holyoke loss to Clark, clinches the sixth and final playoff spot for the Blue, shifting their conference mark to 3-5 (4-10-3 overall). WPI drops from playoff contention with a 2-6 NEWMAC record (3-12-1 overall).
Foster's heroics turned a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 Wellesley advantage in just six minutes of work. Coming off the bench, all three of her scores were unassisted, and also marked the first three goals of her collegiate career.
Wellesley tied the game at 1-1 in the 37th minute of play, as Ava Mokhtari's header into the back of the net finished a perfectly executed free-kick from Megan Turchi. Both teams were able to get off a shot in the remaining minutes of the half, but each goalie recorded a save to keep things at 1-1.
After the start of the second half, Foster needed just over two and a half minutes to begin her scoring spree. Her first goal came at 47:34, after a drive in from the corner and a shot off the hands of the WPI keeper. Foster's second score happened just three and a half minutes later, with a high ball from outside the box. Two minute later, her third goal also came off a long ball, this one hitting the inside of the cross bar and ricocheting across the line, earning her the hat trick, and giving Wellesley a 4-1 advantage.
The Blue would add one more score in the 90th minute, as a long ground ball pass from Turchi was knocked home by Lena Cardoso, sealing Wellesley's 5-1 victory.
In goal for the Blue, first-year Claire Cerda played the first 45 minutes, recording two saves. Senior SJ Gray earned the win, making three saves in the final 45 minutes. For WPI, Maddie Willer suffered the loss, making eight saves, including six in the first period.
Wellesley is back in action on Wednesday, October 26th, traveling to non-conference opponent Simmons at 7:00pm. WPI will host cross-town rival Becker on Thursday, October 27th in a 7:00pm non-conference clash.
Soccer Senior Day
Before the game, Wellesley honored the three members of the Class of 2012.
S.J. Gray… A Peace and Justice Studies major from Montclair, Virginia
Erin Simons… A Psychology major from Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
Amanda Young… A double major in Neuroscience and Spanish from Palos Verdes Estates, California.
