Women’s Soccer Travels to RPI for 2025 Debut

SUFFOLK at RPI
Date Time Venue Video Stats Notes Series	Friday, Aug. 29 3:30 PM ECAV Stadium Troy, N.Y. RPIAthletics.com RPIAthletics.com GoSuffolkRams.com First Meeting

BOSTON – Suffolk women's soccer will pull the curtain back on its 2025 campaign at Rensselaer Friday, Aug. 29 at 3:30 p.m. 

SOCIALIZE
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and X. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

RAPID REWIND
Suffolk women's soccer found itself outside the six-team CNE playoff field a year ago with a 1-4-4 league ledger and a 7-4-6 overall record, despite opening the season with a program-best unbeaten streak of 5-0-1.

The Rams return the All-CNE Third-Team honoree trio of Isa Peraza (2g, 3a), Avery Porter (3g, 2a) and Alex Roth. Scoring standouts Lily Goldman (5g), Sinclaire Hart (3g, 1a) and Makena Columbus (3g) are back in blue-and-gold as well as keeper Arden Ferrari-Henry (1.15 GAA, .815 save percentage), who shutout six foes a year ago. 

RAMS ROOKIES
Suffolk women's soccer's head coach Ellie McDougall's third recruiting class features nine players as seven true freshmen and two transfers have been added to the Rams' roster for the 2025 campaign. 

Senior Scarlett D'Amico brought her talents to Beacon Hill from Bentley, while sophomore Sophia Vazquez started her collegiate career at Misericordia. Olivia Chamberlain, Liyah Davis, Addison Fesler, Tatum Flynn, Paige Kennedy, Ava LaFauci, and Arden Rose will get their college playing days underway in blue-and-gold.  

On top of the regular recruits, McDougall welcomed one walk-on, defender Nadia Trueworthy to the ranks couple days prior to first kick of game one.  

MORE READING: Nine to Join Women's Soccer in 2025 

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Two juniors will wear the 'C" for the 2025 Suffolk women's soccer season as fourth-year head coach Ellie McDougall has announced that Avery Porter and Isa Peraza will share the role.  

"Isa and Avery were chosen as captains because they lead by example and are great representations of our program on the field and off," McDougall said. "They bring energy, integrity, and a deep commitment to the team, I have no doubt they'll help elevate us this season."

MORE READING: Junior Duo to Captain Women's Soccer in 2025 

GEOGRAPHY 101
The 2024 Rams features 30 players representing 14 states. There are five local Bay State athletes from Massachusetts, as well as five that flew across country from California. A trio made the trip up north from Florida with a pair that call Connecticut, New Hampshire, Nevada and Rhode Island home, respectively. Colorado, Delaware, North Carolina, New York, Montana, Oregon and Virigina are represented by one student-athlete apiece. 

CLASS CATEGORIES
Suffolk's squad is comprised of all five classes and is nearly evenly divided between upper- and underclassmen. There are nine sophomores, seven true freshmen and juniors, respectively, six seniors, and one graduate student. 

POSITION PLAUDITS
Position wise, 30 student-athletes are divided between 14 midfielders, five forwards, five defensemen, three keepers and three players that could play multiple roles; one defensive midfielder, one a defensive forward and one forward midfielder. 

COACH'S CORNER
Ellie McDougall was named the head women's soccer coach in February 2022 and will begin her fourth season at Suffolk in the fall of 2025. 

McDougall became the fourth head coach in the Rams' history and second female to lead the program. Suffolk is her first collegiate head coaching role.

McDougall has help on the sidelines Douglas Meloni returns for his third season. Kyle Tremblay, who has helped the men's squad for the last three seasons, has joined McDougall's staff as the goalkeeper's coach alongside graduate assistant Waverly Branningan.  

FIRST THINGS FIRST

• The August 29th first kick is the earliest start to the season in Suffolk's 18-year history. 
• The Rams have never won their season-opener that took place in August. 
• Suffolk sits 0-3-0 when game one is played in August. 
• Suffolk has strung together an 8-7-2 season opener record.
• With wins in 2023 and 2024, Suffolk has grabbed back-to-back opening-day victories, a first in the Rams' record books.
• The Rams are unbeaten in their last five openers (5-0-1), dating back to 2019 and excluding the 2020 campaign due to COVID.
• A day one decision has been decided via shutout nine times with the last coming in a year ago via a 2-0 cleansheet at Elms, Sept. 1, 2024.
• The Rams are 3-4-2 when a team is kept off the scoreboard in the first outing of the season.
• Suffolk starts its year on the road for the second straight season.
• The Rams are 3-4-2 in the first game of the year as the away team.
• The Rams hold a 5-3-0 record when playing day one at home.
• Suffolk has needed extra time to determine a winner in its first outing of the year three times.
• All three of the Rams overtime opening-day outings have gone into double overtime.
• Suffolk is 1-1-1 when playing in OT outings in the first game of the year.
• The last overtime outing in game one for Suffolk was to get the 2019 season underway. The Rams bested Elms, 1-0, in that instance.
• Suffolk will tangle with RPI in game one for the first time.
• Suffolk is 2-0-1 in game one under Ellie McDougall.  

EYES ON THE ENGINEERS
Rensselaer put together a 7-6-3 overall record a year ago under the leadership of head coach Bre Nasypany-Cicero.  

About half of the Engineer's offense from 2024 is back in the line-up highlighted by Sarah Sedlacek, who led the team in assists (4) and points (10). Camila Dominguez matched Sedlacek's goals output with three of her own, with four of her own, while Rachel Borra and Meadow O'Connell added two goals and one handout apiece. 

Audrey Montero is the only keeper on RPI's squad with experience with one game under her belt from last season. Ava Gaboury joined the Engineers in the offense to add depth at the goalie position.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk will meet RPI for the first time.  

STATS SHOWDOWN

RAMFEST
All members of Ram Nation are invited by Suffolk University to East Boston Memorial Park Saturday, Sept. 27 for RamFest. 

RamFest is part of Suffolk Weekend, which brings together the entire University community. The weekend is the perfect opportunity for members of the Suffolk community and their families to reconnect or get acclimated with Suffolk, reminisce with old friends, make new ones and enjoy beautiful Boston in the fall. For a full calendar of events over Sept. 25-27, click here. 

Following Rammy's Fun Run, the family friendly fan fest festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. An afternoon of community, entertainment and school spirit is in store. Event highlights include: 

• A variety of food trucks with local favorites
• Live performances by Suffolk University's house band The Common
• Men's and Women's Soccer Games – support the Rams on their Senior Days! 
• Cornhole Tournament – register with a teammate to or get paired day-of 
  • cornhole additional registration required here
• Axe Throwing and Gladiator Joust for some friendly competition
• Yard games and airbrush pennants to round out the fun

Tickets are required to participate in RamFest and grants you access to food trucks and activities at the fields throughout the afternoon. Alumni, family and friends can purchase their $20 tickets here. Students are free but must register here. Admission to the Rams' soccer Conference of New England (CNE) doubleheader versus Curry is free. 

MORE INFO: RamFest Set for Saturday, Sept. 27

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams four-game season-opening road trip continues Tuesday, Sept. 2 when they visit UMass Dartmouth for a 7:00 p.m. first kick.