Women's Soccer Returns Home for GNAC Action vs. USCJT Saturday

BOSTON – The top two GNAC teams are set for a Saturday, Sept. 17 inside James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park as the Suffolk women's soccer team hosts St. Joseph (Conn.).  The teams, who sport identical 1-0 league ledgers and 3-2 overall marks, are set to play at 1 p.m. 

SOCIALIZE
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics by connecting with the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #RamNation for an insider's look at Suffolk's teams and student-athletes.

LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk women's soccer team saw its win streak halted Thursday night by Regis as the Pride snuck by the Rams, 2-1, at Regis Stadium.      

MORE READING: Women's Soccer Remains Unbeaten in GNAC, Shutouts USJCT

DOUBLE FEATURE
For the second time in 2016, the Suffolk men's and women's soccer teams will be playing in a double header. The women's squad gets Saturday's showdowns started as the Rams entertain GNAC foe St. Joseph (Conn.) at 1 p.m., followed by a men's non-conference contest versus Regis at 3:30 p.m. 

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk's three game win streak was snapped Thursday night at Regis pushing the Rams to 3-2 overall. Suffolk is locked in first-place in the conference standings with its Saturday opponent, St. Joseph (Conn.) with each squad sporting 3-2 overall marks and 1-0 conference records. 

The Rams offense continues to stand strong with a league leading 16 goals and 10 assists. Juniors Jennifer Martin and Alexandra Nagri sit one and two, respectively in the individual standings in goals and points. Martin is first in both categories with six scores for 12 points, while Nagri is second thanks to five goals and 11 points. Jessica Harmon meanwhile, also ranks in the top-five amongst conference competition. The junior sits in a  tie for second in the assists section with a team-best three handouts. 

Suffolk is not absent from the defensive conference charts as the Rams have held opponents to just five scores, which is good for the fourth best in the league. Kirsten Weiker's save percentage (.857) and goals-against average (1.29) rank fifth, respectively. The Rams' sophomore keeper is 2-2 on the young season earning both victories in shutout fashion. 

BREAKING DOWN THE BLUE JAYS
All but one of the Blue Jays' contests this season have been shutouts with three falling in St. Joseph's favor.  St. Joseph (Conn.) has allowed its five opponents to score just four goals this season, the fewest in the conference. The Blue Jays, who are riding a two-game win streak into Saturday, most recently defeated Newbury, 1-0. 

Morgan Skoly and Jessica Spezzano each lead the way for the Blue Jays with four points apiece. Skoly has notched a team-best two goals, while Spezzano found the back of the net once and handed out two assists. 

Megan Ricci has started every game for St. Joseph. The freshman keeper has let in two tallies and stopped 16 for a .889 save percentage and 0.44 goals-against average. Her save percentage ranks third amongst conference keepers, while her goals-against average is good for second. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk and St. Joseph have met on the pitch each year since the Rams' first season as a varsity program. The blue-and-gold trails the all-time series 2-6-1. Suffolk, however, picked up the latest meeting with a 4-3 victory last season. 

EYES ON THE GAME

OPENING THE GNAC GATES
With the 5-0 shutout over Anna Maria Sept. 10, the Rams won their conference opener for the first time in the program's 10-year history. 

SCORING FRENZY
In the 9-0 victory Wednesday night at Wheelock, Suffolk poured in the most goals (9) since scoring 12 in a 12-0 shutout win over Anna Maria Oct. 24, 2012. The nine tallies are the fourth most goals all-time in the program's 10-year history, with the Rams' tallying nine goals on two other occasions, both 9-0 wins – Oct. 14, 2009 vs. Mass. Maritime and Oct. 13, 2010 vs. Newbury.

MAGINIFICENT MARTIN
Jennifer Martin, who is the first Ram with a multi-goal game since Alexandra Nagri netted two in the season finale last season at Mount Ida, racked up four tallies in the 9-0 triumph at Wheelock Wednesday. Her offensive outpour, she ties the fourth-most goals in a single-game by a Ram and is the most goals by a Ram since Leslie Hayden and Lauren Cameron netted five and four, respectively at Anna Maria Oct. 10, 2011. The junior is also the first Ram to net a hat trick since Nagri did so in a 4-3 win at St. Joseph (Conn.) Sept. 19, 2015.

#RAMSFANFEST
For the second straight year, Suffolk Athletics invites all members of Ram Nation to East Boston Memorial Park for a double feature soccer contest and #RamsFanFest Saturday, Oct. 15.

SUFFOLK FREE RADIO
Suffolk Athletics has teamed up with Suffolk Free Radio to bring Ram Nation 17 live broadcasts of Suffolk soccer games this season. 

The pre-game shows are set to launch 15 minutes prior to kick-off of all contests and fans can follow along at mixlr.com/suffolkfreeradio/.  

COMING UP
Suffolk has one week to prepare for conference powerhouse Lasell. The Rams will travel to the Lazers Saturday, Sept. 24 for a 12 p.m. match.