Gordon Snubs Women’s Soccer in CCC Debut, 2-0

EAST BOSTON – On a historic day in Suffolk women's soccer history, and despite a double digit save effort from senior goaltender Allison Rodrigues, the Rams landed on the wrong side of a 2-0 decision against Gordon in its inaugural Commonwealth Coast Conference contest Saturday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Gordon 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-2-0, 0-1-0 CCC) | Gordon (3-1-0, 1-0-0 CCC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gordon got on the board in the 26th minute behind Emily Rodriguez first goal of the year. Shelby Jones dribbled through a handful of Rams' defenders from the left 20-yard line down to the inside the five, slip fed Rodriguez on her right. The blue-and-gold defender on Rodriguez tumbled into a backwards row, which set up a one-on-one with Rodrigues, who came out to make the play. Instead Rodriguez took advantage of the netminder out of position and put away the goal with a swift kick into the bottom left of the net.   

The one-goal game held at the half. The Rams looked to rally and saw their best chance at the 61:55-minute mark when Cassandra LaBarbera nicked the crossbar. Suffolk's junior let a one-time kick fly from dead center 15 yards back. The attempt looked to be good, but met the lip of the crossbar to keep the Rams off the board.  

Less than four minutes later the Fighting Scots doubled the distance. Sarah Sierzenga's corner kick set-up the score by Taylor Talesnick as she met the pass at the right time with her head to knock it into the twine to make it a 2-0 margin with 25 minutes remaining in regulation.  

Over the 25 minutes left in regulation Suffolk was limited to just three other shot chances. One met Tori Paine's glove, another was blocked by Gordon's defense and the third was wide right, which allowed the Fighting Scots to hang on for the conference triumph.  

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Rodrigues had a 10-save effort in net. 
• Paine turned aside the three shots she faced.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Gordon commanded the offensive pace of the day with advantages in every category including shots, 17-11, shots on target, 12-3, and corner kicks, 7-2. 
• Chelsea Fallon, Hayley Long and Nicole Morin-Trotta each put a shot on net for the blue-and-gold.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk opened its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) era. 
• The blue-and-gold tangled with the Fighting Scots for the fifth time overall, first since Sept. 9, 2015. 
• Suffolk fell on its home turf for the first time this season and first time since a 3-2 overtime decision to Lasell in the GNAC Quarterfinals Nov. 2, 2019. 
• Rodrgiues produced a personal-best 10 saves for the third time in her career and first time since doing so in a 4-1 at Regis, Sept. 18, 2019. 
• All five of Suffolk's games this year have been determined via shutout.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk steps away from conference contests Tuesday, Sept. 21 when it pays Eastern Nazarene a visit. The Rams and Lions will tangle at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts, at 7:30 p.m.