Women’s Soccer Stumps Simmons, 2-0, in GNAC Opener 

EAST BOSTON – A goal in each half, propelled Suffolk women's soccer to an opening GNAC win over Simmons, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Simmons 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-1-0, 1-0-0 GNAC) | Simmons (0-4-1, 0-1-0 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first 15 minutes yielded few chances for each team. The best came from Caitlin Ryan as she fired her shot wide of the right post. 

Suffolk would strike first mid-way through the first frame. Liv Hurley played the ball in and forced a save from the Sharks goalie, Melanie Colman. Alyssa Barahona arrived on the spot to pick up the pieces nd found the empty net for a 1-0 lead 23:26 into the action.  

Simmons saw an opportunity off a corner with Riley Wasick shooting into the arms of Allison Rodrigues.  

With the first 45 minutes in the books, Suffolk headed into the break ahead 1-0.  

Suffolk added to its advantage in the 69th minute when Ryan put away her second goal of the second. After a great run down the right from Caleigh O'Brien, Ryan tapped in the low cross into the roof the netting for the two-goal edge.  

The Rams managed the remaining 20 minutes to begin conference competition in the win column. 

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Rodrigues kept a clean sheet with six saves
• Colmean matched Rodrigues' save output with six of her own in the setback. or the Sharks, Melanie \

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Barahona and Ryan were responsible for Suffolk's scores with O'Brien handing out the lone assist 
• The Blue-and-Gold outshot the Sharks 18-12, including shots on goal, 8-6
• Suffolk also held the advantage corners, 3-2. 

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams captured their second-ever conference debut, first since 2016. 
• The cleansheet in the first game of the season is the second for Suffolk in GNAC openers, first since 2016, when the blue-and-gold kept Anna Mara off the scoreboard, 5-0. 
• Suffolk defeated Simmons for the first time since 2013 and fourth time in the all-time series. 
• The Rams lifted the lid on their GNAC calendar in the win column for just the second time in program history and first since 2017. 
• Suffolk played its ninth consecutive conference debut on its home pitch. 
• The Rams and Sharked played in Suffolk's league opener for the first time. 
• Suffolk is off to a 3-1-0 start for the first time under Ashley Van Vechten's guidance and first beginning the 2016 campaign with the same record. 
• The Rams strung back-to-back shutouts together for the first time in 2019 and first since two straight cleansheets that wrapped up the 2018 campaign – a 2-0 win at Norwich and a 6-0 trouncing at Mass. Maritime. 
• Barahona scored her first collegiate goal.
• Rodriguez recorded her third shutout of the season and seventh of her career.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk travels to the Granite State next Saturday, Sept. 21 for a GNAC showdown at Colby Sawyer. The conference contest is set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.