WELLESLEY, Mass. —
Senior goalkeeper
Julia Little (Pensacola, Fla.) totaled eight saves in a shutout effort as the United States Coast Guard Academy women's soccer team played to a scoreless draw at Wellesley College in both sides' New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) season opener on Saturday.
Coast Guard moves to 2-1-3, Wellesley moves to 3-2-2, and both teams start the NEWMAC slate at 0-0-1. The Blue will play #19 University of Hartford (4-0-1) for their next one on Wednesday, the 23rd, at 4:00 PM ET.
Little notched her eight saves and third clean sheet of the season, as well as her second shutout this week, amidst a 19-shot onslaught from the hosts. The Bears took nine shots, with six coming in the second half, while two were directed towards the net. 16 fouls were called on the day, with nine going against Wellesley, while both teams drew a yellow card each in the 86th minute.
Junior midfielder
Ella Pottle (Epping, N.H.) created the first opportunity for the Bears in the 4th minute, with her volley attempt off of a free kick thwarted by the Blue keeper. Little made three saves in the first half, stopping one from a cross on her right side.
Wellesley experienced some bad luck to start the second half, seeing back-to-back free kicks from scorable distances ricochet off of the woodwork and back to the outfield. Coast Guard's lone shot on goal of the half came from senior midfielder
Lulu Vlases (Bozeman, Mont.), who volleyed a Bears throw into the Blue netminder.
The lone corner of the game was in Wellesley's favor, and it was set up on a game-saving play by the Bears' back row. With the Blue approaching the box with open space, Little crashed the opposing ball handler, who sent it to her left to an open teammate. The Wellesley player set herself to shoot, allowing
Mary Arengo (Cincinnati, Ohio) enough time to sprint over for a clutch tackle to send the ball out of bounds. The hosts were unable to capitalize on the corner.
Coast Guard women's soccer returns to action on Wednesday, the 23rd, making a quick trip up the Mohegan Parkway to visit Connecticut College (2-1-1) at 7:00 PM ET. The Camels are on a 15-game win streak against the Bears, taking last season's meeting at Nitchman Field by a 1-0 margin.
