Six Second-Half Goals for Soccer Team in Win

NASHUA, N.H. – Senior midfielder Nicole Mendelson (Southbury, Conn.) scored twice for the first multi-goal game of her career as the University of Saint Joseph soccer team defeated Rivier 6-1 in the opener in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play at River.

The Blue Jays improved to 4-2 overall. Rivier is 0-3-1.

The teams were scoreless at halftime despite USJ outshooting Rivier 16-2 in the first 45 minutes. But USJ went on a scoring binge, finding the back of the net six times in a 30-minute stretch in the second half.

Patricia Nolan (Portland, Conn.) broke the ice when Dayna Gambino threaded a pass to her to set up a breakaway that Nolan converted at 50:34. Mendelson scored her first goal, unassisted, at 55:10 and Sara Barnick (Watertown, Conn.) scored from just inside the 18, also off a feed from Gambino, at 58:05.

Rivier pulled within 3-1 on a score by Holly Slocum, but the Blue Jays finished the scoring with three more goals. Mendelson's corner kick went directly in during the 64th minute, Jaclyn Steeves (Everett, Mass.) scored her first of the season off an assist from Tiana Saraceno (Plainville, Conn.), who then got a goal of her own with under 10 minutes left off an assist from Michelle Turkington (Cromwell, Conn.) USJ outshot Rivier 40-6 for the game.

The Blue Jays are off until Sat. Sept. 21, when they host Anna Maria as part of Tailgate Day at 2 p.m.