Veteran Defense Leads Mustangs to Senior Night Shutout

Auburn, ME – Freshman Destiny Mooers had another two-goal performance, and a veteran back line shut things down on the defensive end, as the CMCC women's soccer team picked up a 4-0 win over UMaine-Augusta on their senior night. Graduating members of the Mustangs squad were honored before the game, including Katie Blouin, Mya Sirois, Madisyn Turcotte, Emily Dillman, Audrey Dillman, Ava Morgan, and Emma Knowles.

Both teams were tentative out of the gate, with chances coming at a premium in the first half hour. Central Maine found the breakthrough in the 35^th minute, when Mooers came through with her first goal of the night. Sirois knocked down a short goal kick and slipped the ball ahead to Mooers on the edge of the area. The Hampden Academy product rifled a right-footed shot to the top corner for a 1-0 lead.

It stayed that way through the end of the first half, with the stats showing both teams to be pretty equal. The Mustangs outshot the Moose 10-7 with a 4-3 edge in shots on target. Goalkeeper Ava Morgan played the first half and stopped all three shots she faced to keep her team in front at the break. Her best work came to deny Gabby Allen, who looked very dangerous for the visitors, on a tight angle shot at her near post.

Things opened up in the second half with CMCC adding an insurance marker in the 51^st minute. Mooers added her second of the night in similar fashion, this time Blouin sent the ball long down the right sideline giving the first-year a chance from the right side of the box. Mooers uncorked a high shot that carried just over the fingertips of goalkeeper Haley Guilmet before nestling in the side netting. It was the second two-goal game for the Hampden, ME native who also tallied twice on the road against VTSU-Johnson.

The Mustangs added two more in quick succession in the later stages. First, in the 73^rd minute Lily Caban played a quick one-two with Madison Valentine near the top of the penalty area. The Sophomore from Mt. Vernon, ME placed a shot just over the GK and just under the crossbar for a 3-0 lead on her second goal of the season.

Next, in the 75^th minute Olivia Varney showcased the power in her left foot, smashing a shot on the run that flew just inside the near post. It was the third of the season for the player out of the Maine Central Institute, with fellow freshman Alicia Bergeron picking up her first career assist on the play.

The Mustangs saw the game out from there. Goalkeeper Emma Knowles played the second half, making five saves to preserve the shutout victory. CMCC remains unbeaten against YSCC opposition, though this match, much like the SMCC victory earlier this season, only counts as a non-conference affair. The Mustangs and Moose will square off again in Augusta on Monday, October 7^th.

"We have great goalies behind us," said captain Madisyn Turcotte. "They do a great job of telling us where we need to be, who's in front of us. They're a key part of our defense and they keep us together."

Central Maine next plays host to VTSU-Randolph on Saturday, October 5^th for a men's and women's soccer doubleheader. The women's squads get things started at 1:00 pm.