The Wells College women's soccer team scored less than two minutes into play and held on to defeat the visiting Morrisville State Mustangs 4-3 in North Eastern Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon in Aurora. Paige Stone (Madison, N.Y.) scored two goals, Shannon Blanford (Fayetteville, N.Y.) added one goal and two assists, and Savannah Tucker (Rochester, N.Y.) chipped in with one goal to lead the Express. With the victory Wells improves to 6-10 (4-6 NEAC), while the Mustangs fall to 3-10-1 (2-8-1 NEAC).
Blanford put the Express ahead in the first 90-seconds, scoring off a cross from senior Rachel Mattraw (Chaumont, N.Y.) for a 1-0 lead. The Express took a 2-0 lead eight minutes later. Blanford fed a pass over to Tucker at the top of the box, who sent a shot to the top left side, off the hands of the Mustangs goalie Jennifer Zidzik (Yarley, Pa.), and in.
The Mustangs responded moments later. Jordan Nadeau (Cobleskill, N.Y.) would have her initial shot blocked but, the ball kicked back out to Erin Rundle (Marathon, N.Y.) and she sent a shot from outside the box over the hands of goalie Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.), trimming the lead to one (2-1).
Wells answered right back. Pushing the ball up towards Morrisville, Blanford sent a pass from midfield on to the foot of Stone who sent a shot to the low left corner for a 3-1 lead heading into the second half.
Morrisville came out quickly in the second, scoring 1:42 into play, as the Mustangs continued to hang around.
Stone gave the Express a much needed insurance goal in the 60th minute scoring off a pass from Megan Lawrence (Scipio Center, N.Y.) and giving Wells their second two goal lead of the game.
The Mustangs added one more goal with 19-seconds to play but it would be too little too late as Wells held on for the 4-3 conference victory.
The Express held the advantage in shots 28-11 and corner kicks 7-1.
Wells returns to action on Wednesday when they welcome NEAC opponent Cazenovia College to campus for their final home game of the season at 3:30 p.m. in Aurora. Morrisville State travels to Keuka College for their final conference game on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.