WORCESTER – The Suffolk women's soccer team fell behind early in its season opener and was unable to mount a comeback as the Rams fell at WPI, 7-2, Thursday night at Alumni Stadium. 

The Engineers (2-0) wasted little time getting on the board, taking a 1-0 edge just 36 seconds into the contest. After picking off a Rams (0-1) pass, Emma Turton lofted a pass towards the upper left box from near midfield and Emily Doherty corralled the pass and put a low shot past first-year goaltender Kirsten Weiker for her first goal of the season. Just over six minutes later, Doherty struck again, angling  a low shot to the bottom right corner off Kara Martin's thrown in for a 2-0 lead. WPI pushed the score to 3-0 on Jaime Espinola's first tally of the season, as the senior scored off her own rebound from the left side of the Suffolk box. 

Down 4-0 after Sophie Gomarlo netted her first goal of the year in the 41st minute, Suffolk got itself on the board. Sophomore Alexandra Nagri curled a kick from the top right of the box between the pipes past Abbey Teliska to make it a three-goal game as the teams headed into intermission. 

Coming off momentum of Nagri's score, the Rams made things interesting when Jessica Harmon and Jennifer Martin teamed up for a point. Off Martin's pass, Harmon sent the ball across the box from the top right to the far side corner to bring the score to 4-2 with 33:39 remaining on the clock in the second half. 

WPI's attack was relentless, however, as the hosts extended their lead to 5-2 when Mari Bailey stole the ball from the Rams' defenders and sent it in the top. The score continued to build for the Enigneers thanks to goals from Sophie Gomarlo and Hannah Modelski, who sealed the 7-2 final. 

In her collegiate debut in net, Weiker finished the night with five saves for the Rams.

Suffolk opens the home portion of its schedule Saturday when it welcomes William Paterson to James A Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. The Rams and Pioneers will take the field at 1:45 p.m.