Women's Soccer season comes to an end with loss to Simmons

(Nashua, NH) On a brisk Saturday evening the Rivier University Women's Soccer team honored several seasoned veterans but suffered a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Simmons College Sharks.

This would be the final game in Raider blue for Christina Parent (Loudon, NH), Cassandra Brown (Somersworth, NH), Rebecca Wickens (Tyngsboro, MA), Lauren Tamposi (Hollis, NH), Brittany Balkus (Milbury, MA), and Mariah Payne (Concord, NH). Through their own determination, drive and unmatched passion, these six not only developed their skills but helped to develop a team that the whole Rivier community can be proud of.

In the first half the Sharks would strike first off the foot of Ali Berkman (Natick, MA). With under eight minutes remaining in the half the Raiders would tie the game with a goal by the senior Tamposi who was assisted by sophomore Susan O'Loughlin (Stoneham, MA). The two teams were dead even heading into halftime but Simmons would pull away in the second.

Simmons got the scoring started 13 minutes into the half when Ainslie Gibbs (No. Smithfield, RI) assisted Kristyn Heuslein (Manchester, NH). The Raiders would respond in the 79th minute with a penalty shot that snuck in the left post by the senior Brittany Balkus. In the final 15 minutes the Sharks would score two goals off of Raider miscues to put the game away. Rivier played hard until the end and was able to produce several scoring opportunities but were unable to put the ball in net.

Also contributing for the Raiders on offense were sophomores Paxton LaRocque (Londonderry, NH) and Holly Slocum (Holden, MA).

With the loss the Raiders fell to 5-11-1 overall and 3-8 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. The victory improves Simmon's overall record to 8-9 and 5-6 in the GNAC and earns the Sharks a #7 seeding in the upcoming GNAC playoffs.