Women's Soccer Stumbles at Suffolk, 5-0

BOSTON – The Suffolk University women's soccer team earned its third straight shutout Saturday afternoon as the Rams downed Anna Maria College, 5-0, in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener for both teams at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.

With the win Suffolk improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the GNAC, while Anna Maria falls to 1-3-0 overall and 0-1 in league play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Jennifer Martin lit Suffolk's offense with a goal 1:31 into the contest and the Rams' did not look back from there as they scored another in the first half and added three in the second to walk away with the 5-0 triumph.

GOALS GALORE

Barely two minutes into the contest Suffolk took a 1-0 lead. Following an Anna Maria foul, Martin trapped Paola Ortez's free kick with her chest and kicked it in top shelf for her fifth goal of the season.

On a 2-on-1 opportunity, Jessica Harmon drew the AMCATS' keeper, XXX, to the left side of the net, slipped the ball to Alexandra Nagri on the right. The junior forward easily scored on the bottom right to give the Rams a 2-0 cushion at 10:44. 

Ortez set up another shot for the Rams at the 58^th minute. This time, Harmon was on the receiving end of Ortez' free kick and the junior forward made a turnaround move and send the rock into the back of the netting for her first tally of the season. 

Martin stretched Suffolk's advantage to five in the 85^th minute. Veronica Bernoard raced the ball down the left sideline, crossed it into Martin, who put away her second goal of the day.

GOALKEEPERS

Kirsten Weiker made one stop in her second shutout of the season, while Anna Maria's Kate Kneeland (Windham, Maine) faced 21 Suffolk shots, stopping 16.

THE SERIES

Suffolk improved to 5-1 all-time against Anna Maria and shutout the AMCATS for the fourth time. The Rams have outscored the AMCATS, 39-2, since the series began in 2011.  Anna Maria won last year in overtime.

COMING UP
Suffolk returns to action at future GNAC foe Regis Thursday, Sept. 15. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.