Simmons Soccer fell to Suffolk University, 5-2, in their home and Great Northeast Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Sharks stand at 1-3-1 on the season (0-1 GNAC), while the Rams improve to 2-1-1 (1-1 GNAC).

The scoring opened up just over halfway through the first half, when Gabrielle Balstrier launched a well-placed shot over the Simmons defenders into the top left of the net, moving Suffolk to 1-0.

With 3:37 left to go before intermission, Kelsey Cavaretta beat Sharks sophomore keeper Ashley Wheeler (Nashua, N.H.) to take a clear shot to the center of the net, leaving the score at 2-0, Rams advantage, at halftime.

Six minutes into the second half, Suffolk's Nicole Carpenter found the back of the net on a rebounded shot from Cavaretta, originally blocked by Simmons sophomore keeper Ashley Donaghey (Framingham, Mass.), to bring the score to 3-0 Rams.

The Simmons offense finally energized at the 30:53 to-go mark, when freshman Kathleen Sullivan (Lincoln, R.I.) slipped the ball past Suffolk keeper Emily Joyce after a succession of shots on goal in front of the net.

Suffolk answered back with Taylor Miranda sneaking a shot by another cluster in front of Donaghey's net at the 17:15 to-go mark. Miranda scored again three minutes later with a header from a Nancy Roxo assist.

The Sharks were able to answer back once more with 11:39 remaining when Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, N.H.) floated a beautiful shot from beyond the 18, bringing the final score to 5-2, in Suffolk's favor.

In goal for Simmons, Wheeler had five saves in the first 45 minutes, while Donaghey made nine in the second 45 minutes. Suffolk keeper Joyce made eight saves in 90 minutes for the Rams.

The Sharks will travel to face off against GNAC host Mount Ida College on Saturday, September 18 at 1:00pm, while the Rams will host Emmanuel College at 5:30pm the same day.