By Adam Levine
Staff Writer
By Gerell Boyce
Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams suffered defeat in a 6-1 loss to the Southern Maine Huskies Oct. 11.
Southern Maine controlled possession and dominated offensively. Rams’ junior midfielder Corlene Guenard reflected on this, stating, “I think we could have done a better job winning 50/50 balls.”
Southern Maine tallied 13 shots on goal and took nine penalty corners throughout the game. Framingham fought hard and with just four penalty corners, they were still able to tally nine shots on goal.
The game’s pace began slowly with multiple minor penalties committed by both the Huskies and the Rams.
The Huskies saw their first offensive opportunity to put Framingham’s defense to the test with a penalty corner from Brooke Carson. Carson’s short pass opened up the chance for the Huskies. Huskies’ Sage Drinkwater was able to track down the ball and sent it back to Carson, setting up the Huskies’ first goal of the night at 7:13.
The Rams pressured the Huskies’ net. Rams sophomore defender Kaylee Beck missed a shot wide, followed by an unsuccessful penalty corner by Guenard.
The first quarter ended with the Rams trailing 1-0 to the Huskies.
The second quarter began with both teams continuing to exchange possession up and down the field. The Rams fouled the Huskies, leading to a penalty shot by Huskies’ Ginny Twitchell, but the shot was wide.
The Huskies would soon take their third penalty corner. Carson’s corner would set up Drinkwater’s assist to Huskies’ Chloe Arsenault for the second goal of the game. At 20:55, Southern Maine would take a 2-0 lead over Framingham.
Just three minutes later, Southern Maine would strike again. Carson’s penalty corner once again set up another goal for the Huskies, this time to herself. Her pass into play gave her teammate Hannah Banks a chance to assist Carson on her second goal of the night. The Huskies took a 3-0 lead at 23:23.
Rams sophomore midfielder Abby Clark drove down the field, evading the Huskies’ defenders. She said she recognizes that her “speed and placement of the ball is impacting [her] team's offense in a huge way.” Clark allowed Rams freshman defender Natalia Roehr to score for Framingham, putting them on the scoreboard with just over two minutes remaining in the first half.
Framingham’s Beck had her shot saved by Southern Maine’s goalie, ending the Rams’ early offensive push in the second half.
Southern Maine retaliated with their own attack. The Huskies Samantha Ellis scored with an assist from Carson. At 34:03, the Huskies increased their lead to 4-1.
Framingham’s strong response was not enough to threaten the Huskies’ defense. Framingham’s Clark had back-to-back shots saved by the Huskies goalie.
Despite Southern Maine’s continued advances, neither team produced any more points and the quarter closed with the Huskies on top 4-1.
Southern Maine’s steady charge led to another goal just over three minutes into the fourth quarter. The Huskies Mary Keef assisted Carson on her third goal of the night at 48:19, increasing the Huskies’ lead to 5-1.
With eight minutes of play left in the match, the Huskies Ellis retrieved a rebound from her teammate's shot and scored the final goal of the night.
Ellis’ goal at 52:46 would prove to be enough for the Huskies to defeat the Rams 6-1.
Although the Rams showed fight until the end, the Huskies kept their lead as time expired.
Looking forward to the rest of the season, the Rams only have five matches left in the regular season, all of which are conference matchups. Framingham’s Clark said she believes her teammates “are all motivated to persevere” and “push through to the rest of the season.”
The loss brought the Rams’ overall record to 7-5 and their Little East Conference record to 3-4. Framingham travels to Salem State for another LEC matchup on Oct. 13.