Bridgewater State Spoils Women’s Soccer’s Home Opener, 5-0

EAST BOSTON – Suffolk women's soccer played in front of its home crowd at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park for the first time in 2022 and Bridgewater State plundered the Rams' home debut, 5-0, Tuesday night. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 0 | Bridgewater State 5
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-1-1) | Bridgewater State (1-1-1)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Bridgewater state became the first team to figure out Sophia Barker as the Bears broke open the score 7:31 into the action. Michelle Belcher dribbled through the blue-and-gold defense and fired an attempt right at Barker. The ball zipped past the freshman netminder and into the twin to force Suffolk to play from behind for the first time this season.  

Suffolk saw a chance to level the playing field off a corner kick in the 22nd minute. Molly Knight lofted a pass deep into the box and found Hayley Long. Long swiftly made a move on target with Logan Levesque out of possession, however a Bears defender was there to push it aside and keep the Rams in a 1-0 hole.  

Another opportunity came for the host six minutes later. This time Kylie Flynn took a corner, made a short pass to Jazmya Harris, who floated a shot on target. Once again BSU's defense backed up Levesque, blocked the shot and kept the score in its favor.  

Bridgewater doubled the distance with 3:38 left before the intermission. Madelyn Morris drew the Rams' defense and Barker's attention as she played her way to the middle of the box. That gave Erin Clancey a chance to sneak in, accept Morris' slip pass and push the Bears in front by a pair.  

The damage wasn't done there. BSU managed to tack on two more over a 3:08 span in the second. Makenna Lessard potted the rock first at 60:39 with help from Michelle Belcher before Bailey Brown etched her name on the scoresheet on Morin's second assist of the night.  

The Bears managed to add one more in the 84th minute. Olivia Robarge converted a pass from Lauren Sellmayer for the 5-0 final.   

NETMINDER NOTES

• Barker registered 10 saves in the setback. 
• Levesque made a pair of stops in her season debut.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk was limited to just seven shots, two on target. 
• Bridgewater State racked up 28 shots and put 15 on net. 
• The Bears had the advantage in corners, 8-3. 
• Jazyma Harris had a pair of shots on her stat line with one on target.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Bridgewater State met for the first time. 
• The Rams moved to 5-10-0 in home openers. 
• Suffolk's first game in front of its home crowd of the season came in shutout fashion for the ninth time. The Rams are 1-8-0 in such instances. 
• Barker made the most saves in her collegiate career. 
• The 10-save performance is the most saves by a Suffolk netminder since Allison Rodrigues produced 10 in the CCC Quarterfinals at Gordon Oct. 30, 2021.

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk plays for Suicide Awareness Saturday, Sept. 10 when it entertains Wellesley in Eastie at 12 p.m.