Women’s Soccer Closes Out Regular Season
Lady Cougars Perfect in Region
(Holyoke, MA / Boston, MA) - The Lady Cougars soccer team played their final two regular season games this past weekend, emerging victorious Sunday after a tough loss on Saturday. Holyoke defeated regional opponent Bunker Hill CC by an 8-0 score in the regular season finale, giving the Cougars a perfect 8-0-0 record in the New England region. On Saturday, Holyoke held a 2-1 lead over NHTI with 15 minutes to play before a referee mistake and a defensive miscue each led to a goal against.
Emma Gomes (Ludlow, MA / Ludlow HS) was outstanding for the Cougars in both games this weekend from her outside back position. In addition to her remarkable play defensively, Gomes calmly buried a penalty kick goal on Saturday before brilliantly finding the top left corner of the net on Sunday with a free kick goal from 40 yards out. Gomes also set up several of her teammates' goals, registering three assists against Bunker Hill. Jessica Patruno (Granby, MA / Granby HS) continued her stellar campaign, scoring a hat trick on the regular season's final day. Patruno also had a goal Saturday and played fantastic soccer throughout both contests. McKenzie Wilson (South Hadley, MA / Smith Academy) was among the strongest players on the field for the Cougars both days, chipping in offensively with an assist against NHTI. Wilson shared Sunday's shutout with starting goalie Maddison Atkinson (Easthampton, MA / Smith Vocational HS). Atkinson now has nine shutouts this season and two shared shutouts with Wilson. Tamara Nicholson (Chicopee, MA / Chicopee HS) scored a pair of goals in Sunday's win and Shannon McCarthy (Chicopee, MA / Chicopee Comprehensive HS) had a goal and an assist. Olivia Brooks (Agawam, MA / Agawam HS), who joined the team at the start of October, registered her first collegiate point with an assist on Sunday and Miranda Grochowski (Westfield, MA / Westfield HS) tallied two assists.
The Lady Cougars end the regular season with a 13-4-0 overall record. They have scored 78 goals and conceded just 17 while registering 11 shutouts. Holyoke is the top seeded team in the New England region and is guaranteed home field advantage for the New England Championship Tournament. Let's go Cougars!
Photos: (Main) Emma Gomes controls the ball as she shields off a defender in an early season game. (Thumbnail) Jessica Patruno moves to a ball during a game from earlier this season with McKenzie Wilson and other teammates in support.
