Top 5 of 2012/13: No. 5 Women's Soccer @ Hampshire - 9/16/12

Amherst, MA - The number five spot in our Top 5 countdown of the best Vermont Tech athletic contests of 2012/13 goes to the women's soccer team for their 2-1 victory on the road versus YSCC opponent Hampshire College.

The women's soccer contest at Hampshire on September 16, 2012 definitely counts as one of the top games of the year for VTC, as Hampshire is never an easy place to play and the Black Sheep were the defending YSCC Women's Soccer Tournament Champion. In addition, Hampshire uses a slightly undersized pitch to its fullest defensive advantage. This is something for which visiting teams must adjust and design game plans accordingly. 

After playing to a stalemate in the first half, the two teams took the pitch in the second with a more offensive mindset. At 59:23 in the second, Senior Ashley Lockerby (Enosburg, VT) broke the scoreless tie connecting on a corner kick fed from Lady Knight women's soccer newcomer Melissa Kelsey (So./Northfield, VT).

Ten minutes after the first goal of the game, the Lady Knights again scored to take a 2-0 advantage. This time Lockerby used her passing prowess, touching one to Junior Tabitha Totten (St. Albans, VT), who secured her first goal of the season. At 69:25 the lead was 2-0 in favor of the visiting squad from Vermont.

Freshman Mallory Fischer (Jericho, VT), who throughout the year shared Goal Keeping duties with Elise Coolbeth (Wolcott, VT), put on a terrific performance in the net. Though allowing a goal at the 76 minute mark that cut the lead to 2-1, she deflected a total of 11 of the 12 shots faced. The victory was the first for Fischer both on the season and in her career.

The win was one of just three on the season for the Lady Knights, but was a thrilling victory against a perennial power in YSCC women's soccer.