Knoll, Reckley Lead Blue Soccer to 1-0 NEWMAC Win Over Clark

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Junior Hannah Knoll (Boise, Idaho) scored her first goal of the season and classmate Olivia Reckley (Grosse Ile, Mich.) made seven saves to lift Wellesley College soccer to a 1-0 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over Clark University on Tuesday afternoon at the Wellesley Fields Complex.

Wellesley snaps an eight game winless streak with their first NEWMAC victory of the season, improving to 4-8-2 overall and 1-5-2 in conference. Clark is now 8-5-1 (3-4-0 NEWMAC).

Clark held a 6-1 edge in shots and a 4-0 lead in shots on goal in the opening half, but Reckley turned back all four Clark attempts to keep the game scoreless at halftime. Clark continued to control possession after the break until Knoll broke through for the Blue in the 67th minute.

Knoll collected a cross at the top of the penalty area from senior Kelly Hoover (Austin, Texas), turned and fired the ball past Clark goalkeeper Julianna Christy (Plainville, Conn.) to give Wellesley the 1-0 lead. Christy made one stop in the game and is now 2-4-0 on the year. 

Reckley (4-8-2) made three more saves in the second half, include one in the games final five minutes to help the Blue hold on for the win. The Cougars finished the game with a 14-3 lead in shots and a 7-2 lead in shots on goal. 

Both teams return to action on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Wellesley will host WPI for Senior Day and Clark will travel to WPI.