Women's soccer loses to UMass

10/20/09 - After losing 3-2 to Brown University in last Wednesday's game, the University of Rhode Island women's soccer team dropped another one goal game in Saturday's match against the University of Massachusetts Amherst. UMass got points on the scoreboard first at the 27th minute when senior forward Cristina Adams redirected a pass from junior Ashley Hamel.

The Rams had some luck for the second goal when UMass freshmen goaltender, Emily Cota, allowed a rebound shot to bounce off of her, letting the Rams tie the game.

In the 80th minute, Adams found the back of the net for her second goal of the game and put UMass up by one goal. Adams then lofted a shot from seven yards out to sneak it past Rhode Island freshmen net minder, Brooke Messier.

Shortly after, junior Kaylen Shimoda received a pass from senior Kristie Moltz and found the back of the net from 12 yards out. That goal was Shimoda's third of the season and it tied the game at two.

"We felt that the momentum was on our side," sophomore Alexis Veith said. "We felt like we would definitely tie it up and end up winning in overtime. We missed a late shot that hit the post, so we were unlucky in that respect."

Just seconds later at 86:20 on the clock, the Rams gave up the game-winning goal, scored by junior Therese Smith. Smith put her game-winning shot into the upper right corner and beat Messier.

Although it was Messier's second start of the season, she made two saves. Her counterpart, Cota, turned down eight shots and earned herself the victory.

"We definitely out-shot them and I think we outplayed them as well," Shimoda said. "We were doing really well taking shots and making opportunities for ourselves. I think our shots were good, but more of them need to be on net. Their goalie didn't actually save that many goals."

Rhode Island out-shot UMass 20-8 and had a 10-5 shots on-goal advantage.

"We give a lot of credit to the goalie, who made some good saves, but we also missed some key opportunities that we just simply need to capitalize on," Veith said.

The Rams will be back in action Friday, Oct. 23 in an Atlantic 10 match-up against Dayton University and will face Xavier in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 25.

"It's tough that the games have been so close by one goal," Shimoda said.

She added that the team has improved every game but the match against Dayton is going to be tough.

The Dayton Flyers are 10-0-5 on the season and have an Atlantic 10 record of 6-0-1.

"It's going to test our ability to rise to the occasion," Shimoda said. "If we all play together and play for each other then I think we'll be able to beat anyone. It comes down to creating chances and getting it in the back of the net."

Veith agreed. "We need to keep our focus and close the games while we're ahead," she said. "We have to get the lead early and not become comfortable. Dayton is going to be a big challenge for us but we're going in to the game with nothing to lose and looking to win."

The Rams look to snap out of a three game losing streak in which they dropped all three games by one goal. The Rams are 4-10-1 on the 2009 season.