CASTINE, Maine — The Maine Maritime Academy women's soccer team remained perfect in North Atlantic Conference play with a commanding 3-0 senior day victory over Thomas College on Saturday afternoon at Ritchie Field.
The Mariners improved to 8-5 overall and 5-0 in conference action behind a two-goal performance from freshman
Harlow O'Leary and a shutout from senior goalkeeper
Isa Thesing.
Maine Maritime controlled the match from the opening whistle, outshooting the Terriers 26-4 and putting 15 shots on goal.
After generating several early chances, the Mariners broke through in the 31st minute when O'Leary scored off an assist from sophomore
Tarin Barrett at the 30:55 mark. The goal gave Maine Maritime a 1-0 lead heading into halftime after the Mariners held a 12-1 advantage in first-half shots.
The Mariners wasted little time adding to their lead after the break. Just six seconds into the second half, freshman defender
Brenna Phalen chipped the opening half kickoff over the Thomas keeper for her first collegiate goal, extending the advantage to 2-0.
Maine Maritime continued to apply pressure throughout the final 45 minutes, earning six second-half corner kicks and repeatedly forcing Thomas goalkeeper Emily Rock into action. Rock finished with 11 saves, helping keep the Terriers within striking distance.
O'Leary put the match away in the 87th minute when she scored her second goal of the day off a feed from senior
Sophia Hernandez. The tally capped a dominant outing for the Mariners and provided the final 3-0 margin.
O'Leary led all players with seven shots, including five on target, while senior
Abby Wong added four shots and senior
Bella Scolaro recorded three. Hernandez contributed an assist and helped spark the attack after entering as a first-half substitute.
Defensively, Maine Maritime limited Thomas to just one shot on goal. Thesing made one save to secure the shutout, while the Mariners' back line kept the Terriers from generating sustained offensive pressure.
The Mariners finished with a 15-1 advantage in shots on goal and a 9-1 edge in corner kicks as they completed a season sweep of Thomas on the season.
Maine Maritime returns to action on Sunday on the road against the University of Maine at Farmington in nonconference action beginning at 2 p.m.
