Gangell, Minor Lead Women's Soccer Past UMass Boston
Boston, Mass. - Freshman forward Megan Gangell (Lee, Mass.) netted the day's only goal and freshman keeper Kia Minor (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) stopped every shot she faced to lead the Framingham State College women's soccer team over host University of Massachusetts Boston, 1-0, today at the Clark Athletic Center Field on the campus of UMass Boston. The Rams improve to 5-10-1 on the season, while the Beacons fall to 11-4-1.
Gangell took a through ball pass from freshman forward Laura Gray (Chicopee, Mass.) and was able to beat UMass Boston junior goalkeeper Michelle Cain (Essex, Mass.), who was trying to come off her line to cut down the striker's angle on the goal. Gangell calmly connected on a low hard strike to the far post corner of the net for her team-leading eighth goal of the season with just 4:40 left in the match to give Framingham State a 1-0 lead that would hold as the game-decider.
Over the final minutes, the Beacons were not able to get the equalizer as Minor was phenomenal for the Rams between the pipes all afternoon, turning away a season-high of 12 shots to record her fifth shutout of the 2009 campaign.
UMass Boston dominated much of the first half of play, controlling the majority of the possession and outshooting the Rams by an 11-4 margin at the break. The Beacons had a golden scoring opportunity 24:35 into the game when senior midfielder Kristi Morales (San Francisco, CA) belted a shot from inside the 18-yard box, that had Minor beat, but ricocheted off the crossbar and resulted in a goal kick for the visitors.
About 15 minutes into the second half UMass Boston's leading scorer, sophomore forward Kristen Mulry (Holbrook, Mass.), appeared to have a breakaway but Minor was quick to come off her line and end any scoring threat for the Beacons by making a sliding tackle to get the ball and end the chance.
The shutout was the Rams' fifth of the season and first against UMass Boston since Sept. 19, 2006 when they blanked the Beacons, 4-0.
Senior goalkeeper Jessica Penta (Revere, Mass.) played a solid first half for UMass Boston, stopping the only shot on goal she saw before being lifted at the intermission. Cain finished the game recording two saves in the second half.
The Beacons will be in action again when they host Emerson College on Thursday, October 29 in a non-conference matchup at 3:30 p.m., while Framingham State will wrap up its season with a home contest on Saturday, October 31 against Fitchburg State at 10 a.m.
Release courtesy of UMass Boston Sports Information.