EAST BOSTON – Suffolk women's soccer and Endicott battled back-and-forth Saturday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. Neither the Rams nor the Gulls managed to find the back of the twine over the 90-minute regulation and the Commonwealth Coast Conference in a 0-0 stalemate.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Endicott 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-4-2, 0-1-1 CCC)) | Endicott (5-2-2, 0-0-2 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Endicott began the game with an early scoring opportunity in the fourth minute, but was turned away with a diving save by freshman goalkeeper Sophia Barker.
The Gulls continued to put pressure on the Suffolk defense, tallying 19 shots in the first half, nine of which were on goal. The Rams turned away every opportunity with strong challenges in the box and impressive saves from Barker.
Suffolk had its lone shot of the half in the final minute, with a strong right-footed attempt from Hayley Long that went just left of the net. The CCC rivals headed to the locker room with zeros hung on the board with the Gulls leading in shot attempts 19-1.
The Rams continued their stout performance on defense early in the second half, denying the Gulls of three shots on target.
In the 77th minute Endicott broke free from Suffolk's defense and had a one-on-one with the goalminder. Barker stood up to the test as she came out of the box to attack the ball and turned away the Gulls forward.
Endicott's final chance came eight minutes later. The ball got past the Rams' back line. Once again Barker was there. This time she picked up her 15th save of the contest to keep things scoreless.
Suffolk was unable to get a shot off the rest of the way to keep the score tied at the end of regulation.
NETMINDER NOTES
- Barker made nine saves in the first half alone and finished with 15 on the afternoon.
- Jacqueline Ruggiero saw three shots in the game, but none on net for saves.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Endicott outshot Suffolk, 32-3.
- The Rams trailed in corners 5-2.
- Alicia Bibi, Long and Daniela Petronio were responsible for the blue-and-gold's three shots.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk picked up its first point in CCC play with the tie.
- The Rams moved to 0-2-1 all-time against Endicott.
- The blue-and-gold has yet to score against Endicott.
- All three battles between the Rams and Gulls have ended via shutout.
- Suffolk kept Endicott of the scoreboard for the first time in the all-time series.
- Suffolk entertained Endicott in Eastie for the first time in the all-time meetings.
- Barker's 15 saves were a career-high as well as a season-high for the Rams.
- Barker's 15 stops were the most by a Rams' goalie since Allison Rodrigues registered 15 in a 3-0 loss at Saint Joseph's (Maine), Oct. 23, 2019.
POST-GAME PIC
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk continues a five-game homestand Tuesday, Sept. 27 when it hosts Fisher at East Boston Memorial Park at 7 p.m.
