Women’s Soccer Wins Conference Title, Gets Auto-Bid To Nationals
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine—The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) women’s soccer team took home its first Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) championship since 2015 and second title in program history, defeating #4 Central Maine Community College (CMCC) 1-0 at Wainwright Recreation Complex on Monday, Oct. 28.
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine—The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) women’s soccer team took home its first Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) championship since 2015 and second title in program history, defeating #4 Central Maine Community College (CMCC) 1-0 at Wainwright Recreation Complex on Monday, Oct. 28.
Semifinals (Oct. 26) vs. #6 Paul Smith’s College
SMCC was able to dominate passing and possession for the first half of the match but was left scoreless at the break. It was junior captain Callie O’Brien (South Portland, Maine) who created off the dribble and found her way through the Paul Smith back four to blast a shot side netting at the 68:28 mark.
A one-goal advantage was all the SMCC defense needed to continue their dominance and log another shutout.
View the photo gallery of the game HERE.
Finals (Oct. 28) vs. #4 Central Maine CC
The Lady Wolves capitalized on a corner kick served by first-year midfielder Desiree Veilleux (Winslow, Maine) and redirected by first-year center back Alyson Lemnah (Westmoreland, N.H.) for the game’s only score in the 16th minute. SMCC finished the half ahead 1-0.
Both teams played to a back-and-forth stalemate in the second, each finishing with 15 total shots. CMCC found new life in the attack when the SeaWolves played down to 10 players for the last 7:30 of regulation. The defensive unit remained balanced and compact, and first-year goal keeper Calley Baker (Jay, Maine) recorded a season-high 13 saves to help keep the clean sheet intact.
The SMCC defense tallied its 11th shutout of the season on Monday, last conceding in September. The Lady SeaWolf back four has allowed just two goals to conference opponents, and sports a 0.35 goals-against-average—the best in the country.
Tournament Champions: Southern Maine CC
Tournament Runner-Up: Central Maine CC
Defensive Player of the Tournament: Jade Sturtevant (CMCC)
Offensive Player of the Tournament: Alyson Lemnah (SMCC)
Tournament MVP: Calley Baker (SMCC)
In a post-game interview, Head Coach Ethan Wells reflected, “This is what we set out to do from day one of preseason. I am so incredibly proud of each and every one of these players for all the work they have put in to be invested in this program. This group has done everything we’ve asked as coaches and I’m thrilled they will get to experience a national tourney because they are 100 percent deserving.”
With the result, the Lady SeaWolves punch their ticket to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Div. 2 National Tournament in Virginia Beach, Va. for the second consecutive season! The tournament is scheduled to begin Friday, Nov. 8. SMCC will find out its pool play seeding upon release of the USCAA Bid Selection Show Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. WATCH the selection show HERE.
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