Women’s Soccer Holds Off Hartford in CNE Debut, 1-0

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Suffolk women's soccer pulled the curtain back on its Conference of New England (CNE) calendar victorious as the Rams shutout Hartford, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Field. 

Angelina Giovanni was responsible for the lone strike on the afternoon, while Arden Rose locked up the blue-and-gold's winning decision with a two-save shutout. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | Hartford 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-0-1, 1-0-0 CNE) | Hartford (3-1-1, 0-1-0 CNE) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Zeros hung on the scoreboard as the teams went to the locker rooms. Each teams had attempts on target. In the first set of 45 minutes. Both of Suffolk's chances on net were denied by Hartford's keeper Sejal Johnson, while Rose gloved the Hawks' only shot that she faced. 
• Pressure defense led to Suffolk's score in the 59th minute. Hartford attempted to clear its zone, but Giovanni had other things in mind as she stole and stormed back towards the Hawks' net. Daniela Petronio ran even with her teammate, received a slip pass and gave it right back to a diving Giovanni for a low shot, that snuck past Johnson to give the blue-and-gold a 1-0 edge. 
• Just over 10 minutes later, Hartford had a chance to even matters. Anastasia Nerney dribbled the rock down the left sideline and pulled the Rams' defense towards here, which allowed Rebecca Opdenbrouw to be wide open at the top of the box. Nerney aimed to capitalize as she went dish the ball to Opdenbrouw. Thankfully for Suffolk, Annabel Veale made a lunging kick that intercepted the pass to save Rose from facing a player one-on-one.
• The blue-and-gold limited the Hawks chances the rest of the way. 

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Rose registered two saves in the shutout. 
• Johnson logged four stops in the setback 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Giovanni recorded the game's only goal. 
• Petronio produced one assist. 
• Both teams took five shots. Suffolk held the advantage in shots on target, 5-4. 
• Hartford held an edge in corners, 5-4.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk's record is unblemished through the first five games of the season for the second straight season. 
• The Rams have not conceded a goal through the first five games of the year.
• The five cleansheets in a row are the most since the blue-and-gold compiled seven Oct. 1-20, 2011. 
• Suffolk moved to 2-3-0 in CNE debuts. 
• The Rams started their CNE schedule in the win column for the second time in program history, first since 2023, which was a 1-0 shutout over Wentworth. 
• Today's decision marks the third shutout in Suffolk's CNE opener, first since 2023. 
• The Rams are 2-1-0 when a team is kept off the scoreboard in the first CNE game of the season. 
• The Rams began their CNE schedule on the road for the second straight season and third time overall.   
• Suffolk won its CNE opener on the road for the first time. 
• On the road, Suffolk moved to 1-2-0 in the first CNE game of the year. 
• Suffolk opened its conference calendar against Hartford for the first time. 
• Suffolk and Hartford met for the third time. 
• The Rams defeated the Hawks for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk is now 1-2-0 all-time against Hartford. 
• The Rams moved to .500 (1-1-0) on the road versus the Hawks. 
• Today's outcome is the first-ever shutout in the series between Suffolk and Hartford. 
• Suffolk has scored one goal in all three contests against Hartford in the all-time series. 
• Rose recorded her third collegiate shutout in as many games played. 
• Giovanni potted her first goal of the season and first-ever game-winner. 
• Petronio is on a two-game point streak. In that span she has four points on one goal and two handouts.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams take a break from CNE competition, Wednesday, Sept. 17 when Lesley stops by James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park for a 7 p.m. contest.