Suffolk women’s soccer had a record-setting season and it started from the get go.
The Rams opened the year, its second under the leadership under Ashley Van Vechten, with an edge of your seat 1-0, double-overtime shutout at Elms when Caitlin Ryan scored within the 106th minute to lift the blue-and-gold to victory. That cleansheet would be the first of what would be eight on the campaign, which marks a program best.
Three games following the thriller at Elms, Suffolk sat 3-1 for the first time since 2016 after coupling back-to-back cleansheets over Mass. Maritime (10-0) and Simmons (2-0). A three-game road stretch wrapped up a September that the Rams went 5-2.
In October more shutouts came for the blue-and-gold with all five of the remaining Rams’ victories coming when they kept their opponent off the scoreboard. Thanks to the tremendous defense and tenacious offense, that outscored its foes, 34-21 on the year, Suffolk not only locked up a place in the GNAC Tournament for the first time since 2017 and eighth time overall, but earned the fourth seed and hosting rights, the highest finish since it won the 2010 regular-season crown.
With one final chance to play for GNAC glory, with Suffolk transitioning into the Commonwealth Coast Conference in 2020, the Rams welcomed long-time conference rival Lasell to East Boston Memorial Park’s James A. Sartori Stadium November 2.
The Rams season ended the same way it started, in overtime, however, the Lasers were the first to strike, finding the back of the net less than two minutes into the extra session to end Suffolk’s season 10-6-0 overall. With a lot to be proud of, the blue-and-gold’s 10-win mark stands fourth in the Rams’ record books.
THROUGH THE LENS
O'BRIEN SCORES THIRD-TEAM ALL-GNAC
Caleigh O’Brien poured in offensive contributions for a 34-goal Suffolk scoring unit, contributing to 27 of the strikes. The forward from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, scored 10 goals herself and assisted on seven others, both numbers led the team’s categories. She finished her junior campaign with 27 points, another statistic that sat atop the offensive categories, and was good for sixth amongst her conference counterparts. For her offensive output, O’Brien earned a spot on the league’s third-team.
RODRIGUES' GLOVEs GET THIRD-TEAM ALL-GNAC
Allison Rodrigues was the backbone of Suffolk’s success. The only netminder on a Rams’ roster comprised of 17 student-athletes, the sophomore captain started 16 games in between the posts and assembled a 10-6-0 record with eight shutouts, which ranks second in the program’s single-season record books. The North Andover, Massachusetts, native assembled an .835 save percentage, holding opponents scoreless for a 194-minute stretch that spanned three games, and a 1.29 goals-against average. Rodrigues is the first set of blue-and-gold gloves to earn all-conference recognition in program history.
VAN VECHTEN COACH OF THE YEAR
Ashley Van Vechten had her work cut out for herself in her second season after the Rams went just 4-10-1 overall and 3-8-1 against conference competition in 2018.
The Rochester, New York native, brought in a healthy four-member recruiting class to add to a core group of returners. Van Vechten's game plans proved to work as she surpassed expectations - as the team was predicted to finish 10th amongst conference counterparts – and end the regular season with a 10-5-0 overall mark and an 8-4 league ledger, not only securing a spot in the GNAC post-season, but the fourth-seed and hosting rights.
Van Vechten's conference peers took notice by voting her the GNAC Coach of the Year. She is the first Suffolk women's head coach to earn the feat.
WILDES sportsmanship
Emerson Wildes earned GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team status for the second straight season.
Wildes, who captained the team as a senior, was a diligent student that found the time to represent and be committed to her team, while also being connected to her studies. She went to all practices, games and events with a smile on her face. The Dudley, Massachusetts, local was a great example to her teammates as a competitor that knows how to play the game right and always gave everything she had and left it all on the pitch.
The all-sportsmanship team was established to honor one player from each team in the conference outstanding dedication to sportsmanship and for their portrayal of good sportsmanship, fair play and a positive attitude.
SENIOR SALUTE
Prior to kick-off on Saturday, Oct. 12 against Johnson & Wales, Suffolk women's soccer honored Emerson Wildes, the only members of the Class of 2020 in a Senior Day Ceremony at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.
USWNT GOLD MEDALIST VISITS RAM NATION
Kristine Lilly, two-time Olympic and World Champion, came to Suffolk to share her journey on and off the soccer field with current members of the University's community.
RAMS REFLECT
In first person narratives, Suffolk's senior, Emerson Wildes, had a chance to look back on her time as Suffolk student-athletes in her Rams Reflections.
Four years ago, I wasn't planning to continue to play soccer in college. Four years later, I couldn't imagine what my life would have been if I hadn't. This game has taught me how to be tough both physically and mentally. I've grown as a person in ways that I never thought I could.
<< EMERSON WILDES
spring silenced
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Suffolk women's soccer's spring season, the first leading up to a new era as the Rams tradition into the highly competitive Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) this fall, was canceled.
While it was heartbreaking to have had our non-traditional season cancelled, we stand united with our university’s leadership, the NCAA, and the greater Boston community in our commitment to measures which ensure the health and safety of all individuals. At this time, our staff’s immediate focus is on the holistic well-being of our student-athletes, in addition to finding creative ways to stay connected and keep developing our game. We are incredibly proud of everyone’s positive response to adversity, and are certain that the resilience cultivated during this time period will only serve to strengthen our team’s abilities come August.