Late Rhode Island Goal Pushes Rams Past SHU 2-1

Sunday, September 7

1 pm

Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics

2-2-1

Rhode Island

4-0-1

Rhode Island

Sacred Heart

Late Rhode Island Goal Pushes Rams Past SHU 2-1

9/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior midfielder Kristin Verrette (Saugus, Mass.) scored her sixth goal of the season Sunday afternoon, but the Rhode Island Rams scored in the 87^th minute to get a 2-1 win over the Sacred Heart women's soccer team at Campus Field.

Sacred Heart (2-2-1) controlled possession early, but only had two shots in the first 11 minutes. After a Jillian Picinich (Bellmore, N.Y.) attempt was stopped by Rhode Island goalkeeper Katie Nickles, the Rams went on the counter attack. Katrin Gylfadottir played the ball across the 18-yard box to Ari Stanton, who shot back across the box to score the game's opening goal in the 12^th minute, making the score 1-0. The Pioneers tied the game 1-1 in the 16^th minute. Marissa Christy (Massapequa, N.Y.) made a run into the 18-yard box and was taken down, drawing a penalty shot. Verrette stepped up to the spot and knocked a low shot past Nickles to level the game.

The Pioneers almost took the lead in the 23^rd minute when Christy found Picinich on a corner kick, but Picinich's header went wide. Emily Dawidczyk (Oxford, Mass.) also got free in the box in the 28^th minute but Nickles made a save on her attempt to put the Pioneers in front. Sacred Heart goalkeeper Talia Schwartz (Roslyn, N.Y.) did her part to keep the game tied, making two saves in the final 10 minutes to keep the score 1-1 heading into halftime.

Rhode Island (4-0-1) came close to taking the lead early in the second half. Alex Stanton hit the crossbar on a shot from 30 yards out in the 53^rd minute. Six minutes later, Simone Hansen put a header over the crossbar. Ari Stanton then hit the post from close range in the 62^nd minute. Dawidczyk also hit the goalpost in the 67^th minute. Gylfadottir got behind the Pioneers defense in the 74^th minute, forcing Schwartz to sell out for a save to keep the game tied. The Rams broke through for the game-winning goal in the 87^th minute. Donika Murray took a pass from Rachael Lieberman and fired a high strike from the top of the 18-yard box, elevating the ball just enough to score. Rhode Island was able to run out the clock and hang on for the 2-1 win.

Sacred Heart outshot Rhode Island 17-12 for the game, including a 10-4 margin in the first half. Nickles made seven saves for the Rams as Schwartz had five for the second straight match for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers are back home at Campus Field at 7 p.m. for a game against Yale.