Box Score
BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team had its winning streak snapped at four Tuesday afternoon, as the visiting Engineers of MIT defeated the Hawks 2-1, giving the team their first home loss of the season.
In the first half, neither team could muster much of an offensive attack, thanks to the defensive backfield of each team. Holding down the back line for Roger Williams were Taryn Roussel (Ivoryton, Conn.), Kristen Metcalf (Londonderry, N.H.), and Michelle Meagher (Sudbury, Mass.). Checking the RWU offense for MIT were Samantha Fleischmann (Eastchester, N.Y.), Kaitlyn Nealon (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.), and Andrea Park (Irvine, Calif.). As a result, the two teams combined for only ten shots in the period.
The second half saw the teams begin to create a few more offensive opportunities. In the opening minutes, Noelle Marston (Kingston, Mass.) just overshot a cross to Kristen Tetreault (Tolland, Conn.) that she would have had a clear opportunity on. Moments later, Fleischmann served a long pass to Leslie Meyer (Brownsburg, Ind.) just onsides in the box. Yet Meyer could not get the shot off, missing a one-on-one opportunity.
In the 66th minute, MIT would get on the board first with Nealon dropping a long pass just in front of midfield to Ambika Krishnamachar (Darien, Conn.), who put one in the net to put the Engineers up 1-0.
The Hawks would net the equalizer in less than a minute. On the ensuing faceoff, Alexa Maher (Hopewell, N.J.) served a pass to Marston, who ran down the right sideline and put a cross to Hannah Noel (Adams, Mass.) inside the box. Noel would drill the game-tying goal 14 seconds after MIT's goal.
The score remained tied at one until the 77th minute, when Elena Gianotas (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) put a corner kick into the middle of the box, where Michelle Battipaglia (Scituate, Mass.) shot in the eventual game winner into the middle of the net.
Meghan Wright (Devon, Pa.) made four saves in the win for MIT. Kelsey McGee (Kings Park, N.Y.) suffered the loss, making two saves in playing the final 18:12 of the game. Hawk starter Stephanie Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) stopped five shots.
“So far this season the team has been awesome,” said Head Coach Tim Moody. ”Unfortunately it was a disappointing performance and a disappointing result; we didn't play anywhere near our potential today and MIT caught us on an off-day. However, we scored a stunning goal from kickoff, along the same lines of our Clark game last week. This tied up the game to one-all and we were hoping this would kick start our game. The goal itself was worth the price of admission.
“Nevertheless too many people played below their normal level and we really didn't get going in the first half. In the second, our effort and attitude was improved and we gave it a go, but regrettably it was just not going to be enough. We all know we can play much better and entertain the fans, but perhaps today we needed to just grind out a result. In the previous seven games we have controlled teams apart with our passing and movement and I expect us to get back to our high standards we have set this fall so far again on Saturday.
“We were ranked tenth in New England going into today's game and we believe on our days when we do perform we deserve to be ranked. We can play with any team when we are on song and score sublime goals like we did today. It was textbook, which shows we have what it takes to have a great season.”
Roger Williams (4-3-1) travels to the University of New England Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. game. MIT (5-1-1) goes to Springfield College, playing a Saturday contest at 4:00 p.m.
