WESTON, Mass. – After the seniors were honored before the match, it took some time for Regis College to get on the board, but the Pride was able to break away in the second half for a 3-0 victory over Framingham State Wednesday evening in a non-conference women's collegiate soccer match at Regis Stadium.
With the temperature dropping as the sun went down, it seemingly took a while for both teams to warm up. The Pride put together a few scoring chances in the first 17 minutes of the match, but Ram goalie Jennifer Stevens was able to keep the ball out of the net, maintaining a scoreless tie as the contest went into halftime.
In the 49th minute, Brianna Gaynor (Peabody, Mass.) streaked down the left side of the field and sent a crossing pass into the box. Emma Mendes (Pawtucket, R.I.) gained possession and chipped the ball past Stevens into the net for her second goal of the season, putting the Pride on the board.
Regis held most of the possession as play went along in the second half. In the 74th minute, Bailey Elliot (Tolland, Conn.) sent a thru ball to Payton Fitzgerald (Danielson, Conn.) on the left wing, and Fitzgerald hit a one-touch crossing pass towards Kaylee Francis (Millis, Mass.), who buried a shot into the net for her team-leading 11th goal of the season.
Framingham State (4-11-1) had a great chance to answer right back off the ensuing kickoff, as Olivia Mihalek launched a shot from approximately 25 yards towards the goal. However, Oriana Attridge (Westwood, Mass.) correctly read the shot, leaped into the air, and punched the ball away to keep the Rams off the scoreboard.
As the clock wound down under 10 minutes, Mihalek created two more scoring chances that Attridge turned away. Regis's final tally came in the 89th minute as Alexandra Maher (Reading, Mass.) faked out a defender and then lobbed a shot over Stevens's head into the net for her third goal of the year.
Attridge finished with six saves as she earned her second shutout of the season. Stevens ended up with five saves in the contest. Regis outshot Framingham State, 16-12, with Rachel Kelly (Whitman, Mass.) and Mihalek leading their respective teams with four shots apiece.
Before the match, seniors Caileigh Darragh (Florence, Mass.) and Jenna Novio (Rockland, Mass.) were recognized by their coaches and teammates as they played the last regular season home match of their collegiate careers.
Regis (10-6) is scheduled to face Emmanuel at Roberto Clemente Field in Boston in the quarterfinals of the GNAC Women's Soccer Tournament Saturday, Oct. 27, beginning at 2 p.m. Framingham State closes its regular season with a conference match at Fitchburg State.