BAY PATH FALLS 3-0 IN SEASON OPENER SCORCHER
LONGMEADOW, Mass.--The Wildcats of Bay Path fell 3-0 in their 2010 season opener to the Mustangs of Mount Ida College in a NCAA Division III women's soccer bout on Ryan Field today amidst a terrible heat wave.
The game started off very slow with both teams remaining scoreless as the sun pounded the players with 95 degree weather and humidity. The first half saw two referee scheduled time-outs for water breaks to try and cool off the players. Bay Path took control of the first 15 minutes keeping the ball on the Mustangs half of the field, unfortunately the team lost their momentum after that letting the heat take the best of the Wildcats.
Coming off an extended 15 minute half-time break, Mt. Ida began to take advantage of their rest time and managed to finally net the eventual game winner in the 47th minute. Sophomore forward Heather Harrington (Bedford, N.H.) found the back of the net off a perfectly punted corner kick by junior teammate Tracy Koukol (North Attleboro, Mass.).
Ten minutes later Harrington again sliced a great shot into an open left side of the net off a perfectly played cross by senior forward Becky Tisbert (Cambridge, Vt.). The trifecta came at 61:30 on the clock when Tisbert again made a beautiful cross inside the box to senior midfielder Michelle Alessi (Salem, Mass.). Alessi sailed a lob shot over Bay Path's freshman keeper Ashley Ralston (Chester, Vt.).
Ralston had six saves for Bay Path. St. Joseph had 23 shots on ten shots on goal. Freshman defender Sarah Azevedo (East Longmeadow, Mass.) made a great block early on in the game. Fellow freshman midfielder Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) also had some quality collegiate play for her first 90 minutes with two shots and one on goal.
Mount Ida senior goalie Meghan Begins (Jericho, Vt.) had one save for the Mustangs.
Mount Ida is now 1-0, while Bay Path is 0-1 on the season. The Wildcats will be on the road for Labor Day, Monday September 6 facing Albertus Magnus for a 1:00 p.m. scheduled start.
