Concord, NH - Coming off a successful three-day road trip to New York, the Mustangs went to NHTI with renewed energy and the results showed. Coach Rodriguez commented "out of all of the games we've played this season, particularly the back to backs-- while difficult early in the season, have made a huge difference in our conditioning level and have put us in a rhythm where our players are doing things automatically on the field as a result from all of that game time together."
Emily Wallingford (Minot, ME) opened up the scoring for the Mustangs in the 21st minute assisted by Rachel Dunn (Marshfield, MA) to put Central Maine up 1-0. Eight minutes later the Mustangs increased their lead when Samantha Belardo (Russell, MA) notched her 9th goal of the season and the first of three on the day. Less than three minutes later, Belardo would strike again off a pass by outside back Alison Noniewicz (Turner, ME). Deja Bennett (Buckfield, ME) would then put the Mustangs up by four on a shot just inside the 18 that deflected off a Lynx defender and the half would close out with Central Maine leading 4-0.
The second half began with the Mustangs too comfortable and NHTI not willing to go quietly and it only took a couple of minutes for the Lynx, who began to control midfield and outshoot Central Maine, to get on the scoreboard on a Madisyn Bureau goal assisted by Jaycee Murray to cut the lead. According to Coach Rodriguez "I warned our players at half-time to respect the history of this team and the fact that they are playing at home because they will make some adjustments for the second half and we need to play this like it is 0-0." With some positional changes, and the Mustangs fitness level kicking in midway through the second half they began to attack again Belardo would net her third goal of the game, assisted by Dunn, to give her a second hat trick in as many games and put Central Maine up 5-1. With five minutes left to play, Dunn would set up Mya Sirois (Monmouth, ME) for the final goal and a 6-1 win.
The Mustangs are back in action at home on Wednesday October 6 in a big 5pm conference matchup with in-state rival Southern Maine Community College.
