Cardinals handle White Mountains 7-1

CLAREMONT- When you sit atop of your division standings, you expect that everyone will be shooting to knock you off. On Monday, the Cardinals left no doubt about who was the better team as Audrey Puksta’s 4 goals set the tone for another big win as Stevens improved to 9-1 with a win over White Mountains, 7-1.

The Cardinals came out with a purpose as Puksta and Jenna Pond got things rolling with 2 quick tallies. White Mountains answered back as a bouncing ball cut the lead in half 2-1 with 23 minutes remaining in the half.

After the game, Stevens head coach Tom Belaire said, “I had some players in different positions today because of injuries plus I like to make sure they are familiar with other roles should the need arise going forward.”

One of those in an unfamiliar position was LeeAnn McCarthy who was teamed with Alexis Aiken in the center back line in front of Kaitlyn Chambers. The defense of Zahna Rice, Jenna Bonneau, Aiken and McCarthy were solid, and limited the visitors to a single shot all game.

“We seem to be in a perfect rhythm right now and we are overlapping and filling in almost without thinking,” said Aiken after the game.

While the defense was clicking, the midfield line of Brooke Bonneau, Sydney Miller and Tanner Brown were nothing short of dominant. With Puksta, Julia Belair and Pond crashing the net and hitting rockets (20 Stevens shots on the day) those openings were the result of crisp passes. Bonneau was a work horse playing the entire game for Stevens at center midfield as the Cardinals took a commanding 4-1 lead into the break.

Puksta netted her fourth goal early in the second half and nearly got another on a beautiful set play from Pond to Aiken, in which Puksta’s header just missed the far post by inches. While Stevens was piling up offsides in bunches, Bonneau used her speed to grab a goal of her own as Pond ended the scoring with a point-blank blast.

“It was a good all-around game today and I think our defense just reacts to situations almost automatically at times,” said McCarthy after the game.

Stevens had assists on the day from Belaire (2), Molly Derosier, Bonneau, Miller, Riley Murphy and Ellee Grenier who had one of her best games of her career.

Stevens improves to 9-1 and is in the top spot in D-III. They will be off until Saturday when they will entertain the Kearsarge Cougars who handed the Cardinals their only loss of the season. Game time is set for 7 p.m.