Helming Nets Hat Trick for 7-0 Shutout of Wheelock

LONGMEADOW, Mass.- Senior forward Elena Helming (Maplewood, N.J.) led the way for Bay Path scoring a hat-trick in the first thirty minutes of play leading the "Maroon" Wildcats to a 7-0 shut-out of New England Collegiate Conference opponents the "Blue and Gold" Wildcats of Wheelock College. Bay Path is now 5-2-1 on the season and 3-0-0 in the NECC, while Wheelock falls to 1-7-0 on the year and 0-3-0 in conference play.

Helming netted the first and eventual game winner at 3:15 on the clock with an assist by junior forward Jai Ruiz (Hadley, Mass.). She would score the second goal unassisted five minutes later. Ruiz would then notch the third goal at 11:58 on the clock after a cross inside by junior midfielder Megan Mackie (APO, AE).

Once again Helming and Ruiz would combine for a goal in the 30^th minute, notching the hat-trick. Ruiz would score her second goal at 36:13 on the clock after long cross from junior defender Rebekah Herring (Springfield, Mass.). Herring would team back u with Ruiz and score her first goal and final point of the half at 44:50 on the clock.

Wheelock would hold off Bay Path scoring until the 70^th minute of play in the second half when Mackie would find sophomore midfielder Joanna Feliciano (Springfield, Mass.) foot to net the final insurance goal of the game.

Sophomore goalkeeper Caitlyn Esposito (East Haven, Conn.) would earn the shut-out with one save. Despite the loss, freshman keeper Elianna Murphy (West Nyack, N.Y.) had 17 saves on 33 shots, 24 of which were on goal. Sophomore midfielder Nicole DeStefano (North Smithfield, R.I.) had the lone shot for the Wheelock Wildcats.

Bay Path will be back in action on Tuesday, October 3^rd hosting Massachusetts Maritime for a 4:00 p.m. start. Wheelock will be back in action on Saturday travelling to Conference opponent Southern Vermont for a 1:00 p.m. start.