WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's soccer team took on the Catamounts at home on Thursday, Sept. 7. The Crusaders had a dominant performance scoring two goals in the first half and another two in the second for the 4-0 victory. Three players recorded their first career goals out of the four scored.

The Crusaders were on the attack right off the bat with senior midfielder Sydney Baldwin drawing a penalty kick in the box just four minutes into play. She drilled the ball into the top left side of the net to get Holy Cross off to a strong start. Freshman forward Charlotte Hanchar netted her first career goal in just her third start dodging two defenders and crushing a long goal outside the box to further the Crusaders lead 2-0 over Vermont. 

 Holy Cross were slower to get started in the second half with the Catamounts putting more pressure on the Crusader backline. Freshman defender Karenna Beckstein got the momentum back, scoring on a free kick served by Baldwin for the 3-0 lead at the 61:15 mark. This marked not only Beckstein's first collegiate goal but also her first career start. Just seven minutes later senior midfielder Allie Raynor drove in her first career goal to cap off the 4-0 statement. Beckstein began the play, crossing the ball into the box to senior midfielder Allie Waters who made a short pass to Raynor who finished the play. 

"I think anytime you score four goals and you beat a team four nil, you've gotta be happy as a coach. And I think that's been a long time coming," said head coach Ben Graham. "The girls have been working hard and competing in training and I think that just rewards them for the work they've put in. And that's not just the 11 that we started with. That's every player in the club. Now they've got to show that they can do that on a week in, week out basis. And we'll hopefully continue that at UMass Lowell on Sunday. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the first half, Holy Cross scored on penalty kick by Baldwin at the 4:16 mark and on a solo shot outside of the box by Hanchar at the 23:17 mark. 

• In the second half, the Crusaders scored on a free kick by Beckstein assisted by Baldwin at the 61:15 mark and on a cross by Beckstein to Waters for the Raynor goal at the 68:22 mark.

• The Crusaders out-shot Vermont 12-9 in the match leading 9-2 at halftime.

• The Catamounts led 9-3 in corners.

INSIDE THE BOX:

• Balmer tacked on her second goal of the season for the early 1-0 lead.

• Hanchar, Beckstein and Raynor all netted their first collegiate goals.

• Beckstein also earned her first career assist on Raynors goal.

• Julia Walsh had two saves in goal

PLAYER QUOTES:

• "Going up to the pk [penalty kick], a little nervous, but I was like, 'I need to put this away to get a good start to the game.' So we had one and then we had another right after. I think it set the tone for the rest of the game. We just kept attacking, so it was great. We executed all of our opportunities today. It was great." #4 Sydney Baldwin

• "I just took that opportunity to take a shot and I'm just so incredibly lucky that it just went right above the goalkeeper's head. I just felt the other goals in general were perfect because it was just everything we've been working on in practice. I'm really proud of our team. " #14 Charlotte Hanchar

• "I was excited to bring the energy out there and I was really feeding off all of my teammates and all of their energy. You know, I saw Charlotte get her first career goal and it just excited me so much and I just was working hard for my teammates and they were encouraging me, and that's what led to my goal and my assist, which I credit them for." #18 Karenna Beckstein

• "It was a great team win. This is the result we were looking for. It feels great to get a goal under my belt, but I give all the credit to Karrena for the cross and Allie Waters for being unselfish and letting me finish it. It feels great." #10 Allie Raynor

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return to action heading to Lowell, Mass. on Sunday, Sept. 10 to take on UMass-Lowell away at 1:00 p.m.