DARTMOUTH, Mass.— The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth couldn't solve junior goalkeeper Alex Benfatti (Gloversville, N.Y.) this afternoon as the Corsairs fell 1-0 to Castleton University in a Little East Conference women's soccer match on Cressy Field. Benfatti registered eight saves in 90 minutes to earn the shutout victory.
Castleton (1-0) cracked the scoring column in the 24th minute, as senior forward Rylee Nichols (Clarendon, Vt.) threaded the UMass Dartmouth defensive attack with a through ball to classmate Julia Carone (Castleton, Vt.). Carone walked in all alone and tucked her first goal of the season inside the near post.
UMass Dartmouth (0-1) began to create offensive chances in the final 10 minutes of the opening frame. The Corsairs' hard work almost paid off when junior
Jillian Prout (Dartmouth, Mass.) nearly netted the equalizer, but Benfatti turned back a point-blank opportunity. The hosts outshot their visitors, 10-7, in the first half.
Castleton almost doubled its lead in the final minutes of the second half, when Nichols served in a free kick and the rebound bounced directly to Carone, who hit the far post.
Senior
Jaimee O'Brien (West Springfield, Mass.) made five stops for the Corsairs.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 7pm on Thursday, April 15, when the Corsairs host Rhode Island College.
