Waterville, ME – Women's Soccer opened their 2025 season with a 2-1 loss on the road against Thomas College. The NCAA DIII opponent took a 2-0 lead with a goal in each half before a late tally by first-year Zion Armstrong to narrow the deficit.
Both teams looked to get plenty of players into the action in this early-season contest. Head coach Rob Rodriguez used 23 across the two halves to try out different combinations after only a few days training together.
Thomas peppered starting goalkeeper Devyn Eliasen in the first 25 minutes, attempting seven shots and putting five on target. The Terriers found the breakthrough in the 19th minute of the game when junior midfielder Alexandra Wallingford scored off an assist from Laurel Fribley. The hosts continued to dominate large stretches of possession, making multiple surging runs down the flanks to create chances.
CMCC was outshot 10-2 in the first half, and fellow freshman goalkeeper Kloee Pelletier was given the final 45 minutes to make her debut. The Mountain Valley High School product was called into action almost immediately, making a smart save at her right-hand post to keep it a one-goal game.
Yaribel Pena swept home a shot in the box just past ten minutes into the second half to double the lead, with an assist to Briley Rutledge. The Mustangs struggled to gain a foothold in the match but did have a few stretches in the Thomas end but failed to threaten substitute goalkeeper Jordan Van Oesen.
That changed late on. With just over five minutes remaining, Sarah Labbe got the chance to tee up a free kick from distance in the central part of the field. The junior midfielder from Biddeford, ME was marking her return to the squad after sitting out last season. She responded by lacing a shot that knuckled on target. Van Oesen got hands to it, but could not hold the powerful shot, spilling the rebound in the six-yard box. Armstrong was on hand tap in the rebound to make it 2-1 and give Central Maine a chance at a draw.
Unfortunately for the visitors, that was their last clear-cut scoring opportunity and Thomas saw out the match to record a 2-1 win. The game saw the same scoreline as the meeting in Waterville last year, although that time around it was the Terriers scoring late to pick up the victory.
The Mustangs have a quick turnaround with two games in two days, facing another North Atlantic Conference team in Husson University for their home opener on Tuesday night.
