Bay Path Holds off Wheelock 3-2 in Women’s Soccer Action

LONGMEADOW, Mass.- Freshman forward Jailinne Ruiz (Hadley, Mass.) netted the eventual game winner in the 36^th minute of the first half helping Bay Path prove they are the dominant Wildcats in the New England Collegiate Conference women's soccer match against Wheelock College today a Ryan Field. Ruiz had a touch on all three goals also adding two assists tallying four points for the day.

Junior forward Dallas Jackson (Springfield, Mass.) struck first in the 24^th minute of play off a cross inside from Ruiz. Ruiz would continue to find Bay Path open bodies near the net crossing the ball to junior forward Shannon Mayewski (North Smithfield, R.I.) at 34:12 on the clock after Head Coach Chris Streeter replaced his front line. Mayeski  just enter the game and made a quick goal to put Bay Path up 2-0.

Ruiz would score the final goal at 35:57 off an assist from freshman midfielder Megan Mackie (Kaiserslautern, Germany).

Wheelock would then break up the shut-out at 44:35 in the first half. Junior defender Courtney Adams (Holliston, Mass.) scored off a well placed cross by junior midfielder Madeline Grover (Jamaica Plain, Mass.).

Bay Path came out of the break up 3-1.  Junior keeper Brianna Kujawski (Webster, Mass.) managed to hold down the net until Grover scored at 79:17 off an assist by Adams. Wheelock's head coach Stephanie Smyrl took advantage of the Bay Path substitutions and waged a comeback only to come up short running out of time.

Kujawski  (1-2) finished with the win with eight saves. She faced 16 shots ten of which were on goal. Wheelock's sophomore goalie Madelaine Demers (New Britain, Conn.) suffered the loss. Demers (0-2) faced 13 shots, eight on goal and had five saves.

Bay Path is now 4-5 on the season, and 1-1 in the NECC while Wheelock falls to 0-7 overall, 0-2 in league play. Bay Path will be back in action on Tuesday, October 6^th hosting Mass. Maritime for a 4:00 p.m. start, while Wheelock hosts Pine Manor on October 8^th at 7:00 p.m.