Helfrich Nets Two Goals, But Carleton Women's Soccer Takes 3-2 Win

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Kaitlyn Helfrich scored a pair of first-half goals, but Casey MacVeagh of Carleton scored her second goal midway through the second half as the Knight held on for a 3-2 win over the Athenas on Sunday morning at Pritzlaff Field.

With the win, Carleton moves to 2-0 on the young season, while CMS slips to 0-3 after a tough opening stretch of three games in four days that included Division II CSU San Marcos, and No. 8 Chicago in its first two contests. 

CMS nearly came away with a dramatic tie late but Cate Lewison struck the crossbar on a counter with just over two minutes left, allowing the Knights to hang on for the one-goal win.

Carleton struck first on a fortuitous goal as MacVeagh scored with her back, leaping in the air to deflect a CMS clearance attempt and having the ball ricochet into the net at the 7:32 mark. 

Just 2:15 later, Helfrich scored the equalizer. Natalie Phillips started the play with a 25-yard shot that hit the crossbar, and the rebound fell to Ava Schmitt, who slotted a short pass into the goalmouth area, where Helfrich was able to one-time it into the net. 

Hadley Twitchell scored for Carleton at the 16:50 mark on a 20-yarder, but Helfrich again responded quickly with a goal just 2:02 later. Nicole Oberlag started that play with a long through ball that found Lewison sprinting in behind the defense along the left edge of the penalty area. Lewison played a low cross about 10 yards out, and Helfrich got on the back end for her second one-timer goal of the day to make it 2-2. 

The score stayed there until 10:39 into the second half when MacVeagh got on the back end of a bouncing ball that was cross by Twichell and one-timed the ball into the net for the game-winner. 

CMS held a 15-8 edge in shots and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks on the day. 

The Athenas will be back in action when they travel next weekend to Vermont for two non-conference games against Williams and MIT before opening SCIAC play on Wednesday, Sept. 14 against Redlands.