Soccer Drops Tight Game to Simmons

BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons junior Meredith Riker broke a stalemate eight minutes into the second half to lift the Sharks to a 1-0 victory over Wellesley College on Wednesday evening. Simmons improved to 10-7 overall with the win, while the Blue fell to 7-9-1 with the loss. 

Simmons tested Wellesley's starting goalkeeper Kat Goldsmith early, as Beauchamp posted three shots and Keri Acheson added a fourth but the Sharks were unable to convert. The Blue regained position and transitioned the ball into the Sharks defensive end. Emily Wilson and Jennifer Marble recorded shots on goal but Briana Hayes was there to make the saves and keep the game scoreless.

In the second half, the Sharks were awarded a penalty kick at 52:20. Simmons junior Kristyn Heuslein sent a cross into the Blue's defensive box, which bounced out of Claire Cerda's hands but Riker was there to convert on the rebound to give the Sharks the only lead they would need. The Sharks had two more chances to increase the lead when Beauchamp drilled a long ball off the post from just over the 25-yard line and Greer Gilbert just missed a cross ball from Rowe.

The Blue continued to lay on the offensive pressure in the second half with shots by Ava Mokhtari and Megan Turchi but were Sharks goalkeeper Amber Verrill made the necessary saves to protect the 1-0 victory.

For Wellesley, Goldsmith finished with one save in 45 scoreless minutes. Cerda made three saves, allowing the lone goal in her 45 minutes of work. Simmons' Hayes and Verrill combined for the shutout win, making six saves between them. 

The Sharks return to action on Sunday, October 28th when they host Albertus Magnus in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference quarterfinal match at 11:00 a.m. Wellesley will play host to Springfield on Saturday, celebrating Senior Day before the key 1:00pm NEWMAC match.