BOSTON, Mass. - The Simmons College women's soccer team was defeated by visiting University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) this afternoon, 1-0, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match on Winsor Field in Boston, Mass. The Sharks fall to 8-7-0 on the season, including 7-2-0 in league play, while the Blue Jays improve to 7-7-0 and 5-4-0.
Despite owning a 21-9 shot advantage, Simmons was unable to stop the second shot of the contest for Saint Joseph in the 20th minute of play. Senior midfielder Sara Barnick (Watertown, Conn.) sent a through ball to a wide open Morgan Skoly (Vernon, Conn.) in the left corner, where Skoly tapped in the cross inside the left post for her team-leading seventh goal of the season at 19:04.
The Sharks had taken four shots on net prior to the goal, but were all denied by the Blue Jays' keeper. They also looked to net the equalizer just over two minutes after the visitors took the lead when senior midfielder Victoria Russo's (Braintree, Mass.) serve on the corner kick reached the head of sophomore forward Kashka Gammon (Nashua, N.H.), but the shot was stopped by the USJ keeper. Senior midfielder Ali Berkman (Natick, Mass.) looked to put the rebound in, but was also turned away. Simmons was led by senior forward Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.), who ripped seven shots on the afternoon, including five on net. Simmons also held a 5-0 margin on corner kicks, but was unable to put together a score.
Senior keeper Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.) made 14 saves to earn her 28th career shutout for Saint Joseph, including five this season. Senior goalie Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) turned away seven shots for the Sharks.
Simmons returns to action on Wednesday, October 21 when it heads to Providence, R.I. to take on conference foe Johnson & Wales University at 6:30 p.m., while the Blue Jays host Norwich University on the same day at 4:00 p.m.
