New England College women's soccer edged their hosts Johnson State College 3-1in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action Saturday afternoon. With the win the Pilgrims are now 7-7-1 overall and 4-2 in the NAC, while the Badgers are  4-8 on the season and 2-4 in conference play.

New England College junior Emily Gubbins needed just ten minutes to knock in a goal in the opening half of play. Gubbins received a crisp cross from teammate Jessica Barnum, took one touch and found the lower right corner to put the Pilgrims up 1-0. Spurred into action, the Badgers answered just seven minutes later from after senior Jenna Paul set-up Alexa Jakiela  from the midfield to strike a floater over the tips of Mackenzie Meegan's fingers to even the score 1-1. Despite the best effort from the Badgers' defense, New England College continued to knock on the door and eventually put one more goal past Nichole Weeks at the 33:00 mark. Ali Leizure took advantage of a shot off of a feed from Rachel Thomas to put the Pilgrims up 2-1. Neither team would score before the first half ended.

NEC and Johnson battled through the first half of the second stanza matching shot opportunities almost evenly, however a Tara Bainbridge goal sealed the 3-1 win for the Badgers in the 77th minute.

NEC finished the game out shooting Johnson 15-8 while Johnson held the corner kick advantage 3-2.

NEC's goal minder Mackenzie Meegan finished with three saves, while Johnson's Weeks notched seven saves on the afternoon. 

NEC returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 11 when they travel to Lyndon St. for a 1:00pm conference tilt while the Badgers will host Colby-Sawyer on the 11th for a 1:00pm kick off.