Women’s Soccer Rolls, Backed By O’Brien Hat Trick

SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE— The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) women's soccer team recorded its fourth Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) victory of the season in a 9-0 rout of Hampshire College on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Co-captain Emily Harris (Dayton, Maine) opened the scoring on a free kick just outside the 18-yard box to put the home team on the board inside the eight-minute mark. Reigning YSCC Player of the Week Callie O'Brien (South Portland, Maine) extended the SMCC lead by two with goals three minutes apart before the half-time whistle sounded. 

SMCC erupted for a cluster of three scores to begin the second half that featured O'Brien's conference-leading ninth of the season and the completion of her second hat trick of her rookie campaign.

First-year Cassidy Harriman (Richmond, Maine) recorded her first goal of her collegiate career and then her second, both on the other end of a corner kick, as the Lady SeaWolves piled on a 6-0 advantage at 48:37— sophomore Samantha Munson (South Portland, Maine) distributed her second assist of the game on the play. 

Sophomore co-captain Nina Fresca (Haverhill, Mass.) and junior Madelyn Wade (Brunswick, Maine) joined in before SMCC goalkeeper Shae Couture (Rochester, N.H.) found a way to get one by her counterpart before full-time expired.

Hampshire managed just one shot on goal against a dominant SMCC defense. The Lady SeaWolves improve to 4-1 in conference play and continue to nip at the heels of New Hampshire Technical Institute (5-0-1) for the top seed in the YSCC standings. Hampshire falls 1-2 overall.

In a post-game interview, Head Coach Julia Cyr commented, "Conference games have an added importance with this year's new playoff format. With two remaining, the game plan is 'urgency' to put ourselves in the best position to find success in Concord."

SMCC will play host to the Community College of Rhode Island next Saturday, Sept. 30 in a non-conference game at Wainwright Recreation Complex. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.

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