Fast Start Paces Women's Soccer Past Eastern Nazarene

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.) had two goals and her single-season program record 13th assist while freshman Sidney Brogan (Los Angeles, Calif.) and sophomore Grace McGrath (Warwick, R.I.) netted a pair of goals apiece as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team scored three times in the first 17:06 and never looked back, en route to a 7-2 win over Eastern Nazarene in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest Wednesday afternoon at Sweeney Field.

With the win the Leopards improve to 11-3-2 overall and 6-0-1 in CCC play while the Lions fall to 3-12-1 (0-7-0).

Richard got the Leopards on the board at the 5:50 mark when she intercepted a pass back and fired a shot to the low center of the net, past freshman Griselda Minchaca (Whittier, Calif.).

Just under 10 minutes later, Brogan tallied her first of the game when she one-timed a cross from junior Ali Leach (Stowe, Vt.) inside the left post. Brogan scored her second just 1:50 later when she broke through a pair of defenders on the left side and fired a shot to the upper right corner.

Richard broke the single season record for assists when she fed a ball in front to freshman Jess Poratti (Essex Junction, Vt.), who tapped the ball in at 30:59. Richard's 13th helper breaks the mark of 12, set by Erin Polselli in 2002.

McGrath gave the hosts a 5-0 lead at the break when senior Mykaela Scarpace (Marlborough, Conn.) sent a ball from the right side which McGrath deposited inside the right post.

Eastern Nazarene got on the board just 1:53 into the second frame when senior Katherine Lawrence (Marlborough, Conn.) broke through the Leopard defense and put a shot home to the upper right corner.

At 67:58 Richard netted her second of the game on a one-timer from senior Amanda Weinberger (Colchester, Conn.) and McGrath potted her second of the game at 87:32 when she capitalized on a turnover and tucked a shot under the crossbar.

Junior Kelly Couite (West Bridgewater, Mass.) scored for Eastern Nazarene with 1:46 left to round out the scoring.

Sophomore Christie Fleming (Braintree, Mass.) made a pair of saves in the first half to pick up the win. Classmate Rachel Schaeffer (Lumberton, N.J.) made two saves in the second half. Minchaca made 12 saves for the Lions. Wentworth had a 28-9 shot advantage and a 5-2 advantage on corner kicks.

Wentworth hosts Endicott on Saturday afternoon. Eastern Nazarene hosts Nichols Friday night.