Augusta, ME – CMCC Women's Soccer brought their regular season to a close in style with a 7-0 win on the road against UMaine-Augusta. Alaynah LeBlond scored a hat trick, Olivia Varney had a brace, and Lily Caban registered a goal and three assists all in the first half. It was the largest number of goals scored for the Mustangs this season, eclipsing their previous-best mark of five.
Central Maine took the lead in the 11th minute. Emma Koch's throw in was deflected to LeBlond who quickly chipped a ball over the top for Caban to run onto. The midfielder raced through on goal, picked her spot, and delivered a shot into the top corner of the net for her third goal of the season.
It was 2-0 just three minutes later. Bianca Gilmore's long pass down the left wing freed up Skylar Oakes to run into the box. The freshman from Fort Fairfield, ME opted to send a ball across the face of goal, finding LeBlond open at the back post for the tap-in finish.
LeBlond scored her second of the match with 19:09 remaining in the half, this time the beneficiary of a pass from Caban. The junior from Maranacook Community High School blocked a clearing effort and got to the ball first near the end line ahead of UMA goalkeeper Vanessa Wharton. She squared a pass around the keeper for LeBlond to smack into the open net with her left foot.
The sophomore out of Old Orchard Beach, ME completed a natural hat trick just three minutes after that. Caban once again pounced on a loose ball in midfield, feeding a pass into LeBlond's feet. She set her eyes on the target and blasted a shot up under the crossbar, making it 4-0 in the 30th minute.
CMCC added two more before the break. Mikayla Martorano forced a defender to head the ball down towards midfield, landing right on the feet of Caban. This time the Mt. Vernon, ME native picked out Varney with a ball behind the defense. Varney simply dribbled in on goal before tucking a shot around the onrushing keeper.
The sophomore from Pittsfield, ME made it 6-0 in the 40th minute. LeBlond dished a pass out wide to Martorano, who launched a cross into the box. Varney beat the defense to the ball, firing into the back of the net while absorbing contact from Wharton.
The visitors made a host of changes in the second half, using every available outfield player. The new front three trio of Sarah Labbe, Kiki Shepherd, and Jaelyn Poitras continued to create chances. Labbe won a free kick from the right wing in the 55th minute. Ksenya Sorterup sent in a beautiful cross that Shepherd knocked in behind, with Gloria San Pedro sending it to the back of the net before Bubbles Madlokazi could clear off the line.
That finished off the scoring for the afternoon. Head coach Rob Rodriguez used the opportunity to swap some players into unfamiliar positions, prepping for worst-case scenarios heading into the postseason. Kloee Pelletier claimed her third win in net for the Mustangs and second clean sheet of the season.
Central Maine now sets its sights on the YSCC Tournament. The Mustangs will be the #2 seed in the East Division, behind #1 overall NHTI, and will host either UMA or SMCC in the first round of the playoffs on October 25th or 26th. CMCC is hosting this year's YSCC Championship weekend on November 1st and 2nd in Auburn, ME.
