Lady Generals Strong in Season Opener

Herkimer's women's soccer team earned an impressive 4-0 win over Holyoke to open their 2010 campaign.  It was the Lady Generals' first game in the Coliseum Soccer Club Kickoff Classic.

Holyoke came out strong, but first-half goalkeeper Michelle Cuomo and the Herkimer fullbacks staved off the attacks.  Cuomo and second-half keeper Rachel Abrams combined to earn the shutout.

The Generals took charge midway through the first half.  Krista Stubba (Poland, NY) controlled on the left wing and sent freshman Emily Baldwin (Gloversville) in free.  Baldwin sprinted 35 yards and beat the goaltender.

Sophomore Amanda Brown (Oxford, NY) made it 2-0 with nine minutes remaining in the first half.  She took a beautiful pass from Tiffany Jones-Maxwell (Hamilton), who dribbled around the keeper at the right side of the penalty area.  Brown then scored with a high, quick shot (pictured).

Holyoke could not sustain their first-half pace in the second stanza, and the Lady Generals capitalized on that situation.  With just over half an hour to play, stellar midfielder Ashleigh Tracy fed Stubba, who nailed the third Herkimer goal.

The Generals nearly scored twice more, most closely with Freshman Sarah Johnson (Herkimer) feeding Tracy, who shot it off the post.

Holyoke sent in a dangerous attack midway through the period, but the speedy leftback from Remsen, Melissa McGough, turned on the jets and sprinted 20 yards to blunt the strike.

The Generals' final tally came with 25 minutes left, as Krista Stubba sent in Tracy, who won a one-on-one and scored.

The Lady Generals host Brookdale CC on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 2:30 to wrap up the Kickoff Classic.