Wellesley Hands Women’s Soccer 1-0 Loss

EAST BOSTON – Despite late-game scoring opportunities, Suffolk women's soccer fell just short to Wellesley College 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park to fall to 1-2-1. The game was played as a cause game, bringing awareness to Suicide Prevention.

Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for college athletes. While athletes have many protective factors in place - community, resources, regular exercise - the pressure to succeed and time constraints can elevate their risk of developing suicidal thoughts. The stressful nature of participating in collegiate athletics, especially now with the added pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, can significantly affect student-athletes and their mental well-being.

 THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Wellesley 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-2-1) | Wellesley (2-1-0)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
In a scoreless first half, Wellesley came out hot with four shots on goal compared to Suffolk's zero. The Rams did put up the first shot of the game in the fifth minute when Molly Knight fired one high. Wellesley's first scoring opportunity came in the 15th minute on a Juliana Mytko blast that was saved by Suffolk goalkeeper Maddie Brooke. The Blue continued to control the time of possession, keeping the ball on the Rams' side of the field for the majority of the half.

With 7:30 remaining in the first half, Marleigh Ausbrooks had an opportunity to put one in the back of the net for Wellesley off a corner kick, but Brooke stepped up for another save. The Rams' defense came up big in the 44th minute blocking a hard shot from Sabrina Frusco. They closed out the half with a spectacular save from Brooke, diving to her left to stop an Ausbrooks shot with 1:40 remaining, bringing the teams into the locker room with the score tied at zero.

Much like the beginning of the first half, Wellesley came out firing in the second, as Remi Fernandez scored the game's only goal just 25 seconds in. Fernandez collected the ball outside of the box and sent a deep shot over Brooke's head for the goal. Suffolk generated much more offense in the second half, creating more scoring opportunities. Their first came in the ninth minute when Hayley Long sent a pass to Jazmya Harris that deflected off Harris' foot and squeaked by the Wellesley goalkeeper Kendall Lincoln. Lincoln was able to recover and chase down the ball for the save before it crossed the goal line.

The Rams put the pressure on Wellesley late in the game with two of their best chances. With just under five minutes remaining, Harris controlled the ball on the left side and sent a cross to Klaudia Rushi who fired a hard shot towards the goal that Lincoln was able to step in front of and deflect away. Just seconds later, from the right side, Long got a shot off towards the left side of the goal, but it rolled past the outstretched arms of a diving Lincoln and wide. The Blue possessed the ball until the clock hit zero, ending the game with a score of 1-0 in favor of Wellesley.

NETMINDER NOTES

• Brooke registered seven saves in the setback. 
• Lincoln collected three saves in the Wellesley victory.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk was held to just seven shots, three on target. 
• Wellesley tallied 17 total shots and put eight on net. 
• The Blue had the advantage in corners, 6-2. 
• Harris, Rushi and Delaney Hall each had one shot on goal their stat line.

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Wellesley met for the second time in history.
• Today marked Suffolk goalkeeper Brooke's first collegiate start.