Late Push Sends Women’s Soccer to 2-0 Win Over UMass Dartmouth

EAST BOSTON – The Rams potted two goals in a 3:26 span late in the second half and Arden Ferrari-Henry totaled two saves to push Suffolk women's soccer to a 2-0 win over UMass Dartmouth Tuesday night at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | UMass Dartmouth 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-0-0) | UMass Dartmouth (1-2-0)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk commanded the pace of play from the get-go and tested Grace Conti early on with seven shots on target in the first half. The Corsairs keeper gloved all attempts on net to keep the Rams scoreless.  

On the other side of the pitch, UMD was limited to just two shots in the first frame, neither of which made its way to Ferrari-Henry to send both to the break with zeros on the board.

Back-to-back corner kicks could have been Suffolk's opportunity to break open the scoring. Kylie Flynn's first corner was on target and forced Tori Russo, who took over for Conti at the break, to make a jumping punch save that forced a second straight corner. It was not déjà vu as Flynn's second kick could not be capitalized on in the 65th minute and the contest remained 0-0.  

Over the next five minutes the blue-and-gold had a pair of free kicks within 30 yards of the net, but neither paid off for the host.  

Suffolk finally broke through in the 78th minute. From the right side line Chelsea Fallon lofted a cross to Isa Peraza on the opposite side of the net. A UMass Dartmouth defended knocked down the rock, but Maci Pekmezian gained possession and converted a right-footed shot from inside the box to the top left corner of the back of the net.  

Less than four minutes later, the Rams doubled the distance. Peraza and Fallon teamed up once again. This time, Peraza made a cross from the left side of the field towards the front of the net where Fallon stuck her foot out for a perfect one-timer to make it 2-0 with 8:44 remaining in the contest. Charli Adams helped set-up the score as well.  

UMass Dartmouth made one final attempt to eliminate the shutout with 6:33 left in the second stanza. Ferrari-Henry made the save to keep the Corsairs scoreless and hold onto the 2-0 win. 

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Ferrari-Henry captured the victory with a two-save, complete-game shutout. 
• Russo suffered the setback with a six-save performance in the second half for UMD. 
• Conti had seven saves in the first half for the Corsairs.

STATISCALLY SPEAKING

• Pekmezian and Fallon were responsible for Suffolk's goals with one apiece. 
• Petronio and Adams had one assist each. 
• The Rams outshot the Corsairs, 22-5 and took the only two corners of the contest.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk started the year with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2011. 
• It is the third time in program history that the Rams opened the year with two consecutive victories (2009, 2011, 2024). 
• The blue-and-gold is unbeaten through the first two games of the year for the third straight season. 
• Suffolk hosted UMass Dartmouth for the first time in program history. 
• The Rams moved to 1-0-1 all-time against the Corsairs. 
• Suffolk scored a goal against UMass Dartmouth for the first time in program history. 
• Both games between Suffolk and UMass Dartmouth have been decided via shutout. 
• Suffolk is now 7-10-0 in its first home game of the year. 
• The Rams have picked up back-to-back home-opening wins for the first time since winning three in a row from 2009-11. 
• A team has been kept off the scoreboard nine times in Suffolk's home opener. It is the first time Suffolk has shutout a team in its home debut. 
• The blue-and-gold is now 2-1-0 in home openers with Ellie McDougall on the bench. 
• Fallon has scored in back-to-back games. 
• Adams has had one assist in both of Suffolk's games this year. 
• Adams tied her career-high in assists. 
• Pekmezian scored her first goal as a Suffolk Ram. 
• Ferrari-Henry had her second shutout of the season, fifth of her collegiate career. 
• With her first assist of the season, Petronio tied a career high with one handout.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams welcome Worcester State to Eastie Saturday, Sept. 7 for a 12:00 p.m. showdown.