NEW LONDON, Conn. —
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy women's soccer team were overpowered on Saturday when they hosted New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rivals Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), falling to the Engineers by a 0-5 margin.
MIT, who are the reigning NEWMAC champions, scored twice in the first half and thrice in the second. The Engineers entered the game ranked as the nation's 12th-best team according to the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll.
Coast Guard moves to 1-8-3 and 0-3-0 in-conference, while MIT improves to 9-2 and 3-0 against NEWMAC opponents. The Engineers will host Salve Regina University (3-6-1, 1-2) on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in further conference play.
MIT went up early after
Natalie Barnouw got one past
Julia Little in the 11th minute, and they extended their lead in the 35th to ensure a 2-0 lead at halftime. Their three second half goals came in quick succession, hitting the back of the Bears' net in the 55th, 60th, and 61st minutes. Barnouw assisted
Madeline Seebeck on the final score.
The Bears were outmatched on both ends of the pitch. They faced a potent offense that took 20 shots during the full 90, with nine being on target, while the Engineers defense allowed just two shots for the entire game. MIT also held an 8-2 advantage on the corners while being whistled for seven fouls to the Bears' ten.
Annabelle Pezzullo (Ashaway, R.I.) created an opportunity out of a sixth minute long-distance free kick, but she missed narrowly wide left. Freshman wingback
Bianca McIntosh (Woodbridge, Va.) made the second try of the game, leaning into a free ball that bounced out of the box following a corner, but missed out the top.
Julia Little (Pensacola, Fla.) was in goal for all 90 minutes and stopped four shots, just one shy of matching her career high.
Bears women's soccer will look to break out of their slump on Wednesday when they travel to Springfield College (3-6, 2-1) for a 7 p.m. contest. The Pride were 3-1 victors after last year's meet-up, which saw Pezzullo score the Bears' lone goal on a free kick in what was otherwise an evenly played match.
