Women's soccer breaks losing streak

After a four-game losing streak, the University of Rhode Island women's soccer team won its first game of the season on Sunday with a 1-0 shutout against Towson University."The important thing was for us to get a win under our belt," Head Coach Zach Shaw said. "At the Division 1 college level that is never easy.

It is also important for [the team] to be rewarded for playing well. Three of our first four games this year were against NCAA Tournament teams and were against the Champions of both the America East and the Big XII."

Shaw added, "We were very good against both Boston University and Kansas, so I think that we have felt good about some of our performances. "We just needed to get over the hump and have playing well translate into a win."

The Rams got on the scoreboard in the sixth minute when sophomore Alexis Veith scored her first goal of the season. Fellow sophomore Courtney Davis assisted.

"Scoring obviously felt great, Veith said. "Courtney Davis sent in a basically perfect ball, so all I had to do was place it."

Both teams played an even match for the remainder of the game, both having their scoring chances and both teams making great defensive plays.

"We had a number of very good chances in the second half to really put the game away, which we need to finish to keep teams from hanging around and to keep the end of games from being so exciting," Shaw said. "We are still looking for an offensive personality that is going to take charge and score goals for us."

While the Rams outshot the Tigers 9-8, both teams registered five shots on goal, and Towson's junior net minder Kristen Sample saved four out of the five shots coming her way.

Rhode Island's junior goaltender Jackie Fede made five saves and earned her first shutout of the season and the 11th of her college career.

Things seemed to be going Rhode Island's way when during the 33rd minute a shot by Towson's senior forward Erica Marshall hit the crossbar and was eventually cleared out of the Rams' zone.

During the last 20 minutes of the game, Fede saw a lot of action, stopping three out of her five shots, helping to keep the shutout alive.

"I think so far the team has been improving," Veith said. "We benefited from playing two top 25 teams, Missouri and Kansas, and it felt good to win against Towson, who is also a really good team."

"For the next game, I think we have to focus on attacking all together and looking to play the ball forward," junior Kaylen Shimoda said.

The Rams will be on the road for the next game, traveling to Burlington, Vt. for a 4 p.m. match against the University of Vermont. Vermont is currently 0-4-1 in the young season.