BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons Soccer fell to the visiting University of Saint Joseph Blue Jays, 3-0 Monday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action. The Blue Jays scored all three goals in the second half.
The Sharks held a slight advantage in shots in the first half, 13-10 and an edge in corner kicks, 3-1. Simmons had their best opportunity of the half at 19:24 when Kristyn Heuslein (Manchester, N.H.) sent a free kick into the Blue Jays zone and forced Melissa Dodge to jump for the save. With less than three minutes to play, Emily Burke sent a shot from the 25 towards the Sharks net but the ball sailed just high to enter halftime, 0-0.
In the second half, Sharks goaltender Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) came up big with a diving save on Sara Barnick's shot to keep the game tied but Barnick put the Blue Jays on top at 59:59 with a left corner shot.
Hayes made another stellar save at 61:56 as Barnick broke through the Sharks defense for a breakaway opportunity. Hayes came out of the net and made a sliding save keep the Sharks in the game. At 67:42, Michelle Turkington sent a high ball into the Sharks zone that just found the left corner for a two-goal lead. Burke was credited with the assist.
With less than ten minutes to play, Patricia Nolan added the Blue Jays lead, sending a low shot to the right side of the net. Despite final efforts by Ali Berkman (Natick, Mass.), Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) and Heuslein, who each recorded shots in the final minutes, the Sharks were unable to convert and the Blue Jays came away with the win.
Hayes made 13 saves in the loss while Dodge posted 11 in the win. The Sharks return to action on Saturday, Oct. 19 when they host Saint Joseph's College Maine at 1:00 PM in more GNAC conference action.