Women’s Soccer Edges Out Husson, 4-1

EAST BOSTON – The Eagles scored first, but Suffolk women's soccer responded with four unanswered to take a 4-1 victory over Husson in non-conference action Wednesday night at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Husson 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-3-0) | Husson (6-3-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Husson wasted no time to break open the action. The Eagles charged the Rams' goal off of kick-off. Suffolk's backline stood tall on the initial attack and went to clear the zone. The visitors jumped into action, Katie Harriman stepped in front of the blue-and-gold's pass. The forward sniped a shot just out of reach of Allison Rodrigues on the left side of the net to give the Eagles a 1-0 edge 40 seconds in.  

A Rams response came four minutes later as Hayley Long received a long ball over the top and charged down the pitch for a one-on-one with Hannah Kenney. Suffolk's junior kept the rock on the turf and slid it into the lower right of the twine to level the playing field at 1-1 less than five minutes into the action. 

Nicole Morin-Trotta tussled with Shie Smith, who took Kenney's place in Husson's net after an injury, at the Eagles' eight-yard line. The Rams' junior won the battle for an easy opener netter. The go-ahead tally came off the Westminster, Massachusetts' native's boot at the 17:04-minute mark. 

Eight minutes later Carley Pearce added insurance. Long lobbed a pass from the right over a pack of Eagles into the far side of the box to Pearce. The senior captain struck a volley off Smith's outstretched glove and the ball ricocheted off the post and into the net to make it a 3-1 Suffolk game with 20 minutes remaining in the first frame.  

That distance was carried into the half, but grew not long into the second stanza. Off a corner kick by Kylie Flynn, Alicia Bibi sliced the ball into the high into the net to stretch the margin to 4-1. 

Rodrigues was tested twice after Suffolk struck in the 53rd minute. Each attempt met the senior's gloves to keep the Eagles at bay, which allowed the Rams to hold onto the three-goal advantage the rest of the way.  

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Rodrigues logged six saves in the victory. 
• Smith notched a pair of saves in 82:12 minutes of play. 
• Kenney had one stop in her 7:48 of action. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Long contributed one goal and one assist. 
• Bibi, Morin-Trotta and Pearce each chipped in one marker. 
• Flynn set-up one shot. 
• Shots were nearly even with Suffolk holding a slim edge, 19-16. 
• Both teams had seven shots on target. 
• The Rams took seven corners compared to the Eagles two.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Husson met for the first time. 
• Until tonight, all of the blue-and-gold's games have been decided via shutout. 
• Long and Morin-Trotta each potted their third goal of the season. 
• Long registered a career-high in points (3). 
• Long dished out her first assist in a Suffolk uniform. 
• Bibi notched her first collegiate goal. 
• Flynn notched her fourth assist of the season.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk returns to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Saturday, Oct. 9 when it entertains Nichols in Eastie at 1 p.m.