Billings, Eagles blank NAC foe Thomas

BANGOR – Husson College center midfielder Dani Billings of Hampden admits that taking corner kicks isn’t an exact science.

“I look for someone open, but more often than not, I just try to put it on a spot and someone just needs to get there to put it in,” said Billings.

Billings, a junior, scored directly on one corner kick and set up Deidra Ham’s goal 2:07 later to give the Eagles some breathing room en route to a 4-0 North Atlantic Conference women’s soccer victory over Thomas College at Boucher Field Wednesday.

Billings’ first goal of the season extended Husson’s lead to 2-0 with 17:40 left in regulation, and Ham, bothered by a sprained ankle, made it 3-0.

Freshman midfielder Bonnie Dow, whose desperate slide tackle prevented Toby Martin from possibly converting an open 12-yarder into the tying goal early in the second half, capped the scoring by directing a Laurie Melen cross into the vacant net. It was Dow’s second of the year.

Kaylin Caron’s fourth goal of the year proved to be the game-winner with 1:44 remaining in the first half off a Melen assist.

Husson improved to 6-6-1 overall, 4-2-1 in the NAC, while Thomas fell to 4-5 and 3-3, respectively.

The Eagles had a territorial advantage in the first half, but the youthful Terriers defended well and were able to generate a few good chances of their own thanks to the speed of freshman Brittany Morin.

Husson was even more dominant in the second half.

“We definitely picked it up a lot in the second half,” said left back May Chan, who teamed with backs Kelly McHatten and Shelby Morissette along with defensive midfielder Shaina Goode to stymie the Terriers.

But the Eagles couldn’t breathe easy until Billings’ corner squeaked into the near side after Thomas senior goalie Jessie Craft and Ham collided while going for it.

“I was taken out pretty good. Oh well, it happens,” said Craft, who turned in an impressive 17-save performance on 37 shots before being replaced by Shannon Proctor (five shots, one save, one goal).

“I was just looking to play the ball to someone’s head. If it isn’t pretty [and it goes in], it doesn’t matter,” said Billings.

Her next corner bounced through the crowded goalmouth to Ham, who maneuvered through defenders and knocked it in from eight yards out.

“We were tired and they wore us down,” said Thomas right back Ashley Pelletier.

“Over the last 18 minutes, Husson definitely took control. That’s why they’re one of the premier teams in our conference year in and year out,” said Thomas coach Andy Haskell.

Husson’s opening goal came during a scramble as the ball skipped across to Caron. She didn’t get a lot on her shot, but it hopped over Craft, who dove across the goalmouth for it.

“I had my hand on it, but it took a bad bounce off the dirt,” said Craft.

Husson’s Leah Drew finished with seven saves on 17 shots. Her best came in the first half as she dove to swat away a curling 24-yarder off the foot of Jen Higgins.