Women’s Soccer Hands WPI First Loss of the Season

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's soccer team scored three first half goals en route to handing the WPI women's soccer team their first loss of the season this afternoon as the Rams defeated the Engineers 4-0 in non-conference action at Maple Street Field.   

With the win the Rams improve to 4-1 on the year, while WPI is now 6-1.

WPI had a pair of scoring chances in the game's opening five minutes, but it was the Rams who got on the board first in the 21^st minute of action.  Junior Marisa Parent (Revere, Mass.) fed the ball to classmate Isabela DeSouza (Framingham, Mass.) in the box. DeSouza made a move around a defender and laid the ball down to Parent, who found the back of the net for her team leading sixth goal of the season.

The Rams extended their lead to 3-0 with goals in 27^th and 30^th minutes.  First, DeSouza fed a pass to with senior Cara Murtagh (Quincy, Mass.) who placed shot in the corner.  Three minutes later Murtagh hit senior Kayla Austin (Winchester, Mass.) with a pass on a run into the box.  Austin then made a move around a defender and found the back of the net for her fourth of the season.

WPI had a pair of chances to crack into the scoring column in the first half's final ten minutes.  With just over eight remaining, senior Megan Forti (Lynn, Mass.) sent the ball through to classmate Courtney Langley (Fairfield, ME).  Langley sent a shot on net that FSU goalkeeper Sara Sullivan (Quincy, Mass.) was able to save.  Then in the final minute sophomore Emily Doherty (Shrewsbury, Mass.) stole the ball from a Ram defender and hit Forti with a pass.  Forti's attempt hit the crossbar and the game went to the half with the Rams leading 3-0.

Framingham State added a goal midway through the second half when Austin converted inside the box off an assist from Parent to reach the final margin of 4-0.

The Rams outshot the Engineers 21-18 in the game.  Sullivan finished with seven saves and recorded her third shutout of the season, while WPI senior net minder Maddie Willer (Penfield, NY) made nine stops and is now 6-1 on the year in net.

The Rams return to action on Saturday afternoon when the open their conference schedule at Bridgewater State at 12 p.m., while the Engineers begin NEWMAC play on Saturday at MIT at 1 p.m.