DARMOUTH, Mass. – First year Natalie Fraizer powered the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth women's soccer team over Curry College, 2-1, on Friday night in non-conference action from Cressy Field. Frazier netted her first career game-winner along with her second brace of the season to move the Corsairs to a 2-1-1 overall record while the Colonels suffered their first loss of the year.
Knotted up at 1-apiece approaching the final minute of the game, the Corsairs took a quick throw-in that Frazier received before turning her defender into open space. She dribbled towards the top of the box and cut the ball onto her right foot to fire a low shot towards the bottom right corner. Despite a diving effort by Colonels goalkeeper Emma Waldeck, Fraizer's shot curved around her gloves and into the back of the net to cement UMass Dartmouth's late comeback win.
The Corsairs opened the second half strong recording four shots in the first five minutes of play, respectively. First year goalkeeper
Marina Cassano posted four saves for the Corsairs as the Colonels began to generate more attacking momentum midway through the half. Senior
Ashlyn Aguiar and junior
Madison Depina each registered a shot on target to disrupt Curry's offense, but Waldeck was able to deny both shots for her first pair of saves on the night.
Trailing 1-0 early in the opening half, UMass Dartmouth capitalized on a breakaway that was initiated by a pass from Aguiar in the Corsairs defensive third. First year
Kiariana Williams collected the perfectly weighted pass from Aguiar around the halfway line and dribbled the ball down the right flank. Williams sprinted by the Colonels backline and crossed the ball to Frazier making a late run on the far post to net the equalizer with 27:32 on the clock.
UMass Dartmouth outshot Curry by a 19-14 margin, however the Colonels edged the Corsairs 9-8 in shots on frame in the game. Corsairs earned four corner kicks compared to the Colonels with three and committed 11-of-18 fouls in the contest.
Frazier led the Corsairs offense with her second two-goal performance of the season and recorded her first career game-winner. She finished the game with a team-high nine shots including four on target for a 44.4 on-goal shooting percentage. Willaims recorded one assist in the win, her third of the season, and posted three shots with one on frame.
Cassano earned her first collegiate win in net for UMass Dartmouth after making a career-high eight saves and allowing just one goal. Lexi Smardon and Waldeck each produced three stops and gave up one goal apiece in net for Curry.
UMass Dartmouth travels to Roger Williams University on Wednesday, Sept. 10 for their next non-conference tilt. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Bayside Field.
