Women’s Soccer draws with MIT in 2OT

Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team battled Massachusetts Institute of Technology to a 1-1 double overtime tie Tuesday afternoon in non-conference play.

Mariah Kaiser (Portsmouth, R.I.) came close to scoring the first goal of the day in the ninth minute. Kasey Provost (Peabody, Mass.) brought the ball down the right sideline as sent a cross to the middle to Kaiser. Kaiser had a dead-on attempt at the goal but fired it right at the keeper Lauren Ulmann (Princeton, N.J.).

A few minutes later, the Engineers had a similar attempt of their own to take the lead. Olivia Struckman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) came down the right side and launched a cross into the box to Jennifer Ibanez (West Windsor, N.J.). Ibanez got a foot on the ball but could not put enough on it, as Hawk keeper Sydney Martin (Scarborough, Maine) made the easy save.

Roger Williams continued to pressure the Engineer defense. In the 35th minute, Provost served up another solid cross, this time to Haley Carignan (Scarborough, Maine). However, Carignan's header sailed just wide left into the side of the net. Then in the 41st minute, Carignan put up a great cross to a wide-open Carla Salcedo (Mexico City, Mexico) on the left side of the net. Salcedo appeared to have an easy goal but a great save by Ulmann kept the game scoreless, as the game entered halftime tied nil-nil.

In the second half, the Engineers caught a big break on a misplayed ball that led to their first goal of the day. In the 61st minute, Jacqueline Simmons (Houston, Texas) sent a pass in the air towards Olivia Struckman (Pittsford, N.Y.). The Hawks tried to head the ball back the other way, but a mishit led the ball to trickle back toward the RWU net. Struckman was able to outrun the defense and get to the ball, leading to a one-on-one situation with Martin in net. Struckman managed to hook her shot past Martin and just into the left side of the net to put MIT on top 1-0.

The Hawks rallied late with the game-tying goal in the closing minutes. With just over six minutes to play, Jenna Hart (Cheshire, Conn.) crossed a pass to the top of the box to Kaiser, who turned and fired into an Engineer defender. The loose ball found the foot of Jessica Valenti (North Reading, Conn.), who knocked in a shot to the center of the net to knot the game up.

The Hawks had two more opportunities to potentially win the game for RWU in regulation. With four minutes left, Ullman was able to get to a loose ball just inside the penalty area before Kaiser could get off a shot. Then with less than two minutes remaining, Carignan had her shot just glance off the right post. Neither chance led to a goal for the Hawks, sending the game to overtime.

In the first overtime period, the Hawks had a great opportunity to end the game five minutes in. Kristen Casey (East Longmeadow, Mass.) sent in a cross to a wide-open Provost, but Provost lost her footing before she could get a shot off. In double OT, Ibanez found herself with a clear shot on net off of a pass from Struckman with just under four minutes to play, but sent the ball too high over the net.

Martin finished the day with two saves, while Ullmann stopped eight shots on the day.

"In the first half of the game against MIT tonight we did enough to win the competition, we created numerous quality chances, however we failed in not testing the goalkeeper enough or hitting the back of the net," said Head Coach Tim Moody. "We were the better team the entire game, on the front foot, in control of the ball for the majority of the match. Unfortunately, we didn't score the goal we needed when we were on top and that allowed MIT to stay in the game and they took advantage of a breakaway, a 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper and scored. It was the only opportunity we gave them and they took it. We need to learn to put teams away when we are on top and our ratio of shots to goals needs improvement."

"However, we never gave up and our heads did not drop, we kept battling and continued to attack, get in good positions, kept taking shots and eventually scored a wonderful strike by Jessie Valenti. From then on it continued to be one way traffic as we searched for the game winner, we didn't sit back but it was not to be. We dug deep and showed a lot of heart and courage, which teams who don't want to loose have to do! It was another step towards our goal of being CCC Champions again."

"We have a very talented group of players, the squad has many strengths, which allow us to switch a formation and shapes if we are not successful in our first choice in any particular game. We can also change personnel to adapt to different environments and conditions. We have a lot of experience on the team, players that have won individual awards which comes from the overall success of the team. Preseason was shorter than normal and so we are still learning as we go! It usually takes 6 weeks for everyone to be clicking. However, we were awesome against Springfield our 2nd game out."

"Right now we are ranked #4 in New England. We feel we can be as good as last year and would like to see similar results. At the moment we are undefeated and we have played the 2014 NESCAC champions Conn College, who were ranked #19 in the nation, a NCAA Tournament team, Springfield and MIT from the NEWMAC, 2 more NCAA Tournament teams as well as Lasell, another NCAA Tournament team from 2014. So it has been an excellent start to the season. If we can stay healthy, fit, motivated and focused we have the opportunity to achieve our goals again this fall."

On Saturday, both teams will be at home in conference play. Roger Williams takes on Eastern Nazarene at 3:30 p.m., while MIT will play WPI at 1:00 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#6 Haley Carignan: F; 5' 3"; Senior

#16 Kristen Casey: B; 5' 6"; Junior

#17 Jenna Hart: MF; 5' 7"; Junior

#7 Mariah Kaiser: F; 5' 7"; Senior

#1 Sydney Martin: GK; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#9 Kasey Provost: MF; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#23 Carla Salcedo: MF; 5' 3"; Senior

#8 Jessica Valenti: MF; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#6 Haley Carignan
: 5' 3"; Senior
: F

#16 Kristen Casey
: 5' 6"; Junior
: B

#17 Jenna Hart
: 5' 7"; Junior
: MF

#7 Mariah Kaiser
: 5' 7"; Senior
: F

#1 Sydney Martin
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: GK

#9 Kasey Provost
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: MF

#23 Carla Salcedo
: 5' 3"; Senior
: MF

#8 Jessica Valenti
: 5' 5"; Senior
: MF