WELLS ROLLS PAST NITTANY LIONS

AURORA, N.Y. – The Wells College women's soccer team (3-6, 1-2 NEAC) steadily defeated the Penn. St. Harrisburg Nittany Lions 3-1 in North Eastern Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon in Aurora. Paige Stone (Madison, N.Y.) and Shannon Blanford (Fayetteville, N.Y.) led the Express with one goal and one assist each, while Rachel Mattraw (Chaumont, N.Y.) earned the victory in net with five saves. Nikki Francis (Pottstown, Pa.) scored the lone goal for the Nittany Lions (2-2, 1-1 NEAC).

The Express pressured early and often in the first half. Blanford nearly gave the Express a 1-0 lead less than ten minutes into play. Moving in along the left hand side, Blanford blasted a shot towards the far post but, Nittany Lions goalie Janelle Hammond made a sprawling save, tipping the ball just wide to keep the game scoreless.

Minutes later Juli Vibbard (Burlington Flats, N.Y.) sent a pass over to Blanford again on the left side of the box and this time she found the back of the net, sending a low shot underneath Hammond off the far post and in for a 1-0 lead.

The lead would be short lived for Wells. A corner kick into the box would inadvertently tip off a Wells player, off Francis and into the net, tying the game at one.  Wells regained the lead in the 35^th minute. Blanford sent a pass from mid-field to Stone, who broke in all alone and beat Hammond high to give the Express a 2-1 lead. 

Less than three minutes into the second the Express extended their lead to two (3-1) on a goal by Savannah Tucker (Rochester, N.Y.) and assisted by Stone. Harrisburg pressured throughout the second half but the Wells defense was equal to the task, holding the Nittany Lions scoreless.

Wells held the advantage in shots on goal (10-6) while both teams finished with four corner kicks.

The Express return to action tomorrow against Gallaudet University at 3 p.m. in Aurora, while the Nittany Lions travel to take on Keuka College tomorrow at 3 p.m in Keuka Park, N.Y.