LEXINGTON, Mass. – In a physical battle, Simmons soccer (0-2-1) fell to nearby non-conference rival Lesley University (1-1) on a cool, misty, Tuesday evening.

From the opening kickoff, the tone of the game was set as a physical and grueling battle. The Sharks' defensive back line made a plethora of big plays in the early minutes of the game. Junior forward Sydney Neumuth fired the first shot in the first five minutes, but Lesley goalkeeper Lauren Lacy came up with the save.  

At the other end of the field, Lacy's counterpart in net for the Sharks was equally as impressive. Ten minutes into the period, Haile Carrillo-Hayes fired back-to-back shots on net, but juniors Marita Nothacker and Mo Grant were in the right place at the right time to swat the ball away.

The Sharks drew first blood, finally scoring in the 27^th minute of the contest. Pressuring the Lynx defense, Grant flipped the ball in towards the waiting feet of senior captain Izabella Warren. Moving towards the net, Warren swung back her leg and powered the ball into the upper right-hand corner of the net to give Simmons the 1-0 advantage.

The game remained a 1-0 ballgame until the waning minutes of the first half. Coming up the far side of the field, Lesley's Sacha Porter buried a long shot attempt into the back, right corner to tie the game a one.

Coming out halftime, the time of possession continued to favor the Lynx as they kept the pressure on the Sharks. The Sharks saw their best opportunity to score in the 58^th minute after Neumuth had a shot attempt deflected out the back line, setting up Simmons' first and only corner. But nothing was able to materialize.  

Late in the game, sophomore Rei Kayamori broke through the Lesley defense and looked poised to drive towards the goal, but a Lynx defender came from behind and knocked the ball away. It changed the momentum of the game. With five minutes to play in the game, Lesley's Calli Masters from Abby Kalou in front of the net for the eventual game-winner.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Izabella Warren registered her first goal of the season, breaking up the scoreless tie in the 27^th minute on pass from junior Mo Grant.
• It was Grant's first collegiate career assist as she and fellow junior Olivia Hewitt played outstanding defense to solidify the Sharks' back line.
• Junior goalkeeper Marita Nothacker registered 11 saves in the game.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the pitch on Thursday, September 8 when they host Eastern Nazarene College at 7 p.m. at Daly Field.