Women’s Soccer Drops Match To Essex County

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Kayla Gomes (Halifax) netted a goal for the second time in as many games, but the Essex County women's soccer team proved to be too much as Massasoit fell 8-1 on Saturday.

Essex County used a blazing start to take a 3-0 lead, scoring the three goals in the first nine minutes of action.

Massasoit (0-2) was able to settle its nerves and keep the visitors off the scoreboard the rest of the half.

For the last 36 minutes of the first half and into the second stanza, the Warriors played right with the Division I Wolverines (Massasoit women is a NJCAA Division III program). However, Essex County went on another burst scoring four goals in a 12-minute span in the second half to put the game out of reach.

A bright spot for the Warriors came in the 65^th minute when Gomes found the back of the net for the second time this season to notch the first goal on the new Warrior Field. She was assisted on the play by a cross into the box from Gina Nutting (Rockland).

Gomes finished with a team-high seven shots, four coming on goal. Zhandali Fontes (Taunton) fired five shots for the Warriors.

In goal, Laura Ellis (Whitman) finished with seven saves, five coming in the first half.

Massasoit returns to the pitch on Thursday with a road contest at Bristol CC. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m.