WESTON, Mass. - Powered by a game-winning penalty kick goal from freshman
Amanda Thompson and a strong defensive effort, the UMass Dartmouth women's soccer team defeated Regis, 1-0 in their season opener on Friday afternoon. The Corsairs begin their regular season with a record of 1-0 record. The Pride start their season 0-1.
Early in the second half with the game still scoreless, Regis's sophomore Emma Nunnemacher committed a foul inside the box, sending Thompson to the PK circle for the Corsairs. The first year wasted no time contributing to the team's success, finding the the net for her first career score, to put UMass Dartmouth up 1-0 at the 59:09 mark.
Trying to even the game up, the Pride gave UMass Dartmouth a scare in the 87
thminute of the contest, when Regis first year Erin Flaherty got fouled in the box by UMD freshman
Adriana Adames, granting Flaherty a penalty kick. Flaherty's attempt was struck on target and out of reach of UMD freshman goalkeeper
Grace Conti, but ricocheted off the crossbar. The Corsairs were able to clear the ball away and hold onto their 1-0 lead as the final minutes ticked away.
Thompson's game-winner was the only goal of the contest, but eight different Corsairs tallied shot attempts. Junior
Jillian Swass finished with three shot attempts with one on target. Freshman
Haley Rutherford also attempted a shot on goal. Conti (1-0) started the game and played all 90 minutes in the net for the Corsairs, she made one save and allowed no goals in her first start.
The Pride finished the game scoreless but saw seven different players attempt to score. Sophomore Meadow Cameiro had two tries that went off target. Fellow sophomore Olivia Dench attempted a shot on goal that was saved by Conti. Flaherty was nearly able to even the game at one in the closing minutes with her penalty kick that careened off the crossbar. Two goalkeepers split the minutes defending the net for Regis, sophomore Daniela Mazo played the first 45 minutes and made one save while junior Linda Johnson (0-1) took over in the second half. Johnson also made a save but allowed the game-winning goal.
UMass Dartmouth begins their 2023 regular season with a win and will look to carry their momentum into Saturday, when they travel to Salem State for a 2:00PM kickoff against the Vikings.
