BOSTON, Mass. – On Saturday afternoon, sophomore Ali Berkman (Natick, Mass.) and sophomore Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) led the Sharks to a 5-2 win against the Mount Ida Mustangs in the opening of Great Northeast Athletic Conference play. The Sharks are 3-2 overall, while the Mustangs fall to 1-4 on the year.
Mount Ida broke the game open with a goal by Briana Tomaselli, but the Sharks knotted the game at one with a tip by Gilbert off a throw in by senior Desh Perera (Reading, Mass.). With under five minutes to play in the half, Berkman converted a free kick opportunity, firing a shot past Mustangs goalkeeper Rebecca Beaulieu to close out the half with the Sharks up, 2-1.
In the second half, Gilbert gave the Sharks a two-goal lead off a header with an assist from Perera off a corner kick. The Mustangs fought back, as Rachael Reese tallied an unassisted goal past Sharks keeper Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) low short side. Just two minutes later, first year Alexis Eusebio (Dartmouth, Mass.) scored her first collegiate goal off a header to bring the score to 4-2. The final tally of the game was shot by Berkman, who defeated two Mustang defenders for the score.
The Sharks held a 32-13 advantage in shots and a slight 3-2 advantage in corner kicks. Hayes made six saves in the win, while Beaulieu recorded 10 in the loss.
The Sharks return to the field on Tuesday, Sep. 17 at home versus Emerson at 7PM. The Mustangs host Nichols on Sep. 19 at 3:30PM.