EAST BOSTON – The Suffolk women's soccer team kept Ram Nation on the edge of its seats Saturday afternoon with an overtime thriller against Regis. The Rams came up just short in its GNAC opener, however, as the Pride scored the golden goal in the 96th minute to take the 2-1 victory away from the blue-and-gold at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1, Regis 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-3, 0-1 GNAC) | Regis (3-1, 1-0 GNAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk struck eight minutes into the action to take an early 1-0 lead. Driving down the field the Rams drew Angie Caldwell out from between her post. With the ball on the 30-yard line. Addisyn Lanza beat Caldwell to it, picked it up off the bounce, lifted it over the keeper's head and put it into the goal.
With just under 15 minutes left before intermission, Regis leveled the playing field. The Pride used a breakaway of its own to knot the score at 1-all as Julia Fieldsend's diving save would not be enough to stop Brianna Gaynor's shot from the left slide with the ball grazing Suffolk's netminder's finger tips into the net.
Suffolk commanded the opening 20 or so minutes of the second stanza with a few go-ahead opportunities, but Caldwell stood tall in net for the Pride to keep things at 1-1.
Regis saw its best shot with just under 20 minutes left on the clock in regulation as Faith Montgomery and Rachel Kelly did a give-and-go in front of Allison Rodrigues. Rodrigues made the punch-dive save on Kelly's shot to keep things equalized.
As time continued to tick down both teams put pressure on the goalies, but neither Caldwell or Rodrigues would let up to force the extra session.
In overtime, Suffolk had two prime opportunities for the golden gold. The first came off Caleigh O'Brien's foot on a free kick at the left 25-yard line. The sophomore's set shot sailed just high of the cross bar though and it was back to the grind for the Rams.
Lanza had her chance a few minutes later on a deep shot, but like her classmate she was off the mark.
Kelly put away the game-winner with exactly six minutes subtracted from the extra frame. The junior midfielder was dribbling up field looking for an open teammate when she saw an opportunity to strike and did so, sneaking the rock past Rodrigues to secure the win for the Pride.
KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS
- Rodrigues suffered the setback, her first decision, despite a seven-save effort.
- Fieldsend recorded five stops over the first 45 minutes for Suffolk.
- Caldwell went the full 96 minutes in between the posts for Regis and turned aside four shots.
STATISTISCALLY SPEAKING
- Lanza scored the lone goal for Suffolk.
- Gaynor and Kelly each found the back of the net for the Pride.
- Regis outshot Suffolk, 22-11, with a 14-5 edge in shots on target.
- The Rams had the advantage in corners, 5-4.
NOTEWORTHY
- The Rams opened their conference slate versus Regis for the first time.
- Suffolk played its ninth league opener on its home field.
- Suffolk went into overtime in its first GNAC game of the season for just the second time and first since 2009.
- All three goals were unassisted on the afternoon.
- Lanza netted her first collegiate goal.
- Rodrigues matched a career-high seven-save and has reached that number in the past two contests.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk remains at home for a midweek match against Anna Maria Wednesday, Sept. 12. Game time in Eastie is scheduled for 7 p.m.
