Auburn, ME – CMCC Women's Soccer picked up its first win of the season in impressive fashion, beating UMaine-Augusta 4-0 at home on Tuesday afternoon. Four different players scored for the Mustangs who improve to 1-3-1 overall and 1-1-1 in YSCC play. The victory came on spirit day at the campus as part of a men's and women's doubleheader in Auburn.
Jaelyn Poitras opened the scoring in just the seventh minute of play. Gloria San Pedro sprayed a pass out wide from the center circle for Lily Caban, who sent an early cross in for the speedy Poitras to race onto. The freshman forward held her nerve with goalkeeper Abigail Hynes coming out to cut down the angle and poked a shot under her, rolling it into the back of the net. It was the Windham native's first career goal.
San Pedro then got in on the scoring act herself in the 24th minute. Defender Meghan Remington forced a turnover and captain Madison Valentine sent the ball forward to put the UMA back line under pressure. Mikayla Martorano crossed it to the top of the box for San Pedro, who set up a shot from the penalty arc on her left foot. The UMaine-Farmington transfer curled her effort around the diving goalkeeper and into the corner for a 2-0 lead.
Central Maine all but put the game away in the first half with its third tally in the 40th minute. This time Ksenya Sorterup did the hard work with a marauding run down the right flank and into the box. The Damariscotta, ME native, who was returning to soccer after previously playing for now closed Clarks Summit University, took a great shot that hammered against the post and bounced back into the area. Midfielder Olivia Varney was in the right position to smash in the rebound for her first of the year.
The Mustangs finished things off for good in the second half with a goal by Alaynah LeBlond. Kiki Sheppard was given too much free space on the right to dribble towards the box and deliver a low cross. LeBlond beat her defender to the ball but appeared to scuff her shot high. However, the ball floated over the head of substitute goalkeeper Vanessa Wharton before landing in the net. The Old Orchard Beach High School product's goal made it 4-0 in the 53rd minute.
UMA had a couple of opportunities to pull a goal back. The visitors were unlucky not to receive a penalty kick after CMCC goalkeeper Kloee Pelletier collided with Allyson Spencer inside the area. The freshman keeper collected her first clean sheet of the season with two saves. The Mustangs outshot the Moose 12-2 in the first half and 16-5 for the game. The victory was Central Maine's first in the new East and West divisional format for women's soccer in Yankee Small College Conference play this season. The two teams meet again for the return fixture in their regular season finale up in Augusta on October 14th.
Next up, CMCC faces a tough test on the road against nationally ranked USCAA DI team UMaine-Fort Kent on Saturday. Kick-off against the Bengals is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
