Simmons Soccer fell to Suffolk University, 5-2, in their home and Great
Northeast Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday night. With the loss,
the Sharks stand at 1-3-1 on the season (0-1 GNAC), while the Rams
improve to 2-1-1 (1-1 GNAC).

The scoring opened up just over halfway through the first half, when
Gabrielle Balstrier launched a well-placed shot over the Simmons
defenders into the top left of the net, moving Suffolk to 1-0.

With 3:37 left to go before intermission, Kelsey Cavaretta beat Sharks
sophomore keeper Ashley Wheeler (Nashua, N.H.) to take a clear shot to
the center of the net, leaving the score at 2-0, Rams advantage, at
halftime.

Six minutes into the second half, Suffolk’s Nicole Carpenter found the
back of the net on a rebounded shot from Cavaretta, originally blocked
by Simmons sophomore keeper Ashley Donaghey (Framingham, Mass.), to
bring the score to 3-0 Rams.

The Simmons offense finally energized at the 30:53 to-go mark, when
freshman Kathleen Sullivan (Lincoln, R.I.) slipped the ball past Suffolk
keeper Emily Joyce after a succession of shots on goal in front of the net.

Suffolk answered back with Taylor Miranda sneaking a shot by another
cluster in front of Donaghey’s net at the 17:15 to-go mark. Miranda
scored again three minutes later with a header from a Nancy Roxo assist.

The Sharks were able to answer back once more with 11:39 remaining when
Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, N.H.) floated a beautiful shot from beyond
the 18, bringing the final score to 5-2, in Suffolk’s favor.

In goal for Simmons, Wheeler had five saves in the first 45 minutes,
while Donaghey made nine in the second 45 minutes. Suffolk keeper Joyce
made eight saves in 90 minutes for the Rams.

The Sharks will travel to face off against GNAC host Mount Ida College
on Saturday, September 18 at 1:00pm, while the Rams will host Emmanuel
College at 5:30pm the same day.

(Story courtesy of Simmons College Sports Information)