SECOND HALF GOAL DOWNS PRIDE DURING NECC OPENER

WESTON, Mass. - The Regis College women's soccer team opened up New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday with a 1-0 shutout loss to conference foe Elms College during Pride Fest at Regis Stadium. With their first conference victory, the Blazers advance to 2-5-0, (1-0-0 NECC) and with the loss, the Pride drop to 2-4-1, (0-1-0 NECC)

Elms opened the contest with the game's first scoring chance. Six minutes into the game, the Blazers held the first corner kick opportunity. Freshman midfielder Jackie Soucia (Belchertown, Mass.) took the corner chance and crossed it into the box to waiting teammate Michelle Rossignol (Manchester, Conn.) The only player that stood in the way of Rossignol and the net was Regis goalie Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.) Rossignol took her chance and ripped a shot to the right side of the net and Gagnon stretched out fully and denied the Blazer scoring opportunity.

Regis countered 15 minutes later after an Elms turnover at midfield set up a Pride scoring chance. Tais Salles (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) received a through ball and a one-on-one opportunity on the right side of box. Salles then ripped a shot on net that was denied by Blazers goalie Alexa Rinaudo (Bellmore, N.Y.)

The Blazers had three more chances before half to break the tie but Michelle Rossignol, Jackie Soucia and Rachel Connell (Easthampton, Mass.) were each thwarted by Gagnon.

Two minutes into the second half, Soucia attempted another shot at Gagnon but was once again turned away. Regis reset and began to make a run up field but the ball turned over at midfield. The ball was then passed off to a wide open Kylen O'Hearn (Somers, Conn.) who was streaking through the middle of the Pride defense. O'Hearn then found herself in a one-on-one situation with Gagnon and ripped a shot from the right side of the box which found the bottom left of the net. O'Hearn's second goal of the season was the game-winner and gave the Blazers an early 1-0 second half advantage.

The Pride then had the next scoring chance. With Regis set up in Elms' defensive zone, Adena Joseph (Stoughton, Mass.) received a pass on the left side of the box and found herself with just goalie Rinaudo in front of her. Joseph dialed up a shot but it just went wide and the score remained 1-0.

Three minutes later, after forcing a turnover, the Pride were set up in the Blazers zone again. Olivia Hamill (Sudbury, Mass.), who just came off the bench, found herself set up with a scoring chance as the ball was redirected to the front of the box. Hamill rifled a shot but it went wide of the net.

Regis tried to make a final push for the equalizer and was set up on the opponents part of the field with about five minutes to go in the game, but the Pride jumped offside and that ended the Regis scoring threat.

The Crimson & Gold were outshot by the Blazers 11-3 during the contest and Elms held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks. Alexa Rinaudo made one save and earned her second win on the year. Rachel Gagnon stopped seven shots but earned her first conference loss during the defeat.

The Pride head into October with a non-conference bout at Thomas College on Wednesday, October 1st. Game-time is slated for 5 p.m.