Boxscore

NORTH ROCKLAND, N.Y. – Sophomore Kelly Williams scored the Lightning's first goal of the season to tie the score at one apiece just two minutes into the second half, but Tori Matt added two more goals for the Spartans in regulation as host St. Thomas Aquinas College defeated the Goldey-Beacom College women's soccer team, 3-1 in non-league play Wed. afternoon.

The Lightning (0-2) were outshot 9-4 in the first half (16-12 for the game) as they went down 1-0 at intermission, but gave a valiant effort in the second half, taking eight shots to the Spartan's seven. The Spartans dominated the corner kick statistic for the game though, taking 11 corners to Goldey-Beacom's one.

Senior Ashley Welch led the Lightning with four shots, putting one on goal. Williams, and juniors Felicia Justice and Marissa Valladares each tallied two shots apiece.

STAC's Jeanette Gibson earned the complete-game win as she stopped five shots and allowed one goal. Junior Kristin Degenhardt started in goal for the Lightning and made one save in just a little over 23 minutes of work. Sophomore Alyssa Vetrano relieved her and played the remainder of the game, making four stops and allowing three goals.

The Spartans opened the scoring at 23:09 when Liz Gronwoldt beat Vetrano on a penalty kick for an early 1-0 lead.

Down 1-0 at halftime, the Lightning struck early as Williams worked her way past a charging Gibson and scored on an empty net to knot the score at 1-1 not two minutes into the second frame.

Almost six minutes later, Matt scored the first of her two goals after gathering a loose ball off a blocked shot by Gronwoldt. She would tally again nearing the 70 minute mark when she received a pass from Katherine Dapolito, beat a Lightning defender and shot the ball past Vetrano for a Spartan insurance goal.

The Lightning will begin their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference schedule on Sat. when they visit Dominican College. Kickoff is at 12 p.m.