October 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Felicia J. Prater
(305) 205-4236
Soccer Earns Another Shutout Win Of Season Against Coast Guard
Northampton, MA: Sophomore forward Ellie Theurer (Gainesville, FL) scored the game winning goal while senior midfielder Etta Grover-Silva (Arcata, CA) scored two insurance goals as Smith earned another shutout of the season against conference rival Coast Guard. With the 3-0 victory, the Pioneers improved to 3-7-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the NEWMAC while the Bears fell to 2-9-0 overall and 0-4-0 in the conference.
Coast Guard came out attacking early in the game as their leading scorer, senior Katie Kurek (Williamstown, NJ) took a hard shot at goal within the first 2 minutes of play but was denied by Smith's sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Gregor (Bradenton, FL). Showing that they too were in offensive attack mode, Smith's sophomore forward Jen Chang (Seoul, S. Korea) answered with a shot on goal off a corner kick but was blocked by a Coast Guard defender.
The Bears played great defense in the first half as they prevented Smith from scoring on several occasions by either stealing or blocking the ball or registering a save. However, it wasn't good enough to stop Smith from putting up two goals before the end of the half. At the 21 minute mark, senior defender Hailey Bird (Salt Lake City, UT) found sophomore Ellie Theurer (Gainesville, FL) at midfield who registered the goal for Smith when she dribbled toward the net, drawing Coast Guard's goalkeeper Mary Mills (St. Louis, MO) out of the goal and kicked a hard shot in the back of the neck as Mills reversed back in an unsuccessful diving save attempt.
The Pioneers scored again right before the half off a free kick by senior Etta Grover-Silva (Arcata, CA). Smith maintained their control of the game in the second half, out shooting Coast Guard 12-1. Coast Guard had ample opportunities to score but couldn't convert despite the nine fouls Smith committed. To seal the win for the Pioneers, junior defender Bryce Bludevich (Colchester, VT) fed the ball to Grover Silva who then headed it into the net at the 70 minute mark.
Coach Gabbert was pleased with her team's efforts on the day. She commented how "great it was to get another shutout. The team worked hard and earned it. Ellie did a good job on the first goal, showing composure in the box. She's playing better every game. This was a great team win, we earned it together and it put us in a good position in the conference."
1 2 F
Smith (3-7-1, 2-1-1) 2 1 3
Coast Guard (2-9-0, 0-4-0) 0 0 0
Scoring:
21:04 Theurer (Hailey Bird)
37:55 Grover-Silva (unassisted)
70:12 Grover-Silva (Bryce Bludevich)
Keepers: Smith - Lindsey Gregor (90mins, 0GA, 5 saves)
Coast Guard - Mary Mills (90mins, 3GA, 9 saves)
Shots: Smith 25, Coast Guard 7
Corners: Smith 6, Coast Guard 1
