Rettemeier, Raiders fall to Sharks

BOSTON, Mass. -- The Rivier University Raiders came up short in a North Atlantic Conference contest at Simmons College tonight by a 7-1 final. Senior tri-captain Lindsay Rettenmeier (Ashford, CT) score the lone goal for Rivier, which fell to 2-10 on the season and 0-6 in the conference.

In the first half, Simmons controlled the ball through the midfield and tested Raiders sophomore goalkeeper Makenzie Flagg (Shirley, MA) early. Sophomore Aslyn Dindorf (Harts Location, N.H.) found the back of the net at 8:13 off a rebound by Flagg. Three minutes later, Dindorf buried another shot past Flagg off a stellar pass by Meghan Fay (Foxboro, Mass.) to put the Sharks up by two.

The Raiders had two opportunities to cut the score in half off penalty corners by senior Ashley Ruocco (East Kingston, NH) but Simmons goalkeeper Renna Smith (Belfast, Maine) came up big to maintain the Sharks lead.

Simmons midfielder Seneca Martensson (East Longmeadow, Mass.) picked up a clear by Smith and sent a long ball to the Sharks offensive line. Dindorf collected the ball outside the circle and hit a line drive toward the cage as Williamson deflected the ball past Flagg for her first goal of the evening at 18:09. Four minutes later, Fay found Williamson in the circle, who beat Flagg on the left side.

The Sharks defense denied three consecutive Rivier penalty corners, including a shot by  Rettenmeier, which hit the post but the Raiders were unable to convert as the first half expired with the Sharks up 4-0.

At 41:44 in the second half, junior Monica Doucette (Rockport, Maine) slipped a quick shot past Flagg off an assist by Amy Cronin (Georgetown, Mass.) but the Raiders rebounded with the lone goal of the game off a shot by Rettenmeier. Just six minutes later, Cronin set up a Sharks penalty corner as Williamson tallied her final goal of the game. Simmons continued their offensive attack with shots by Cronin, Dindorf, and Gabrielle LaPerriere (Auburn, Maine) but it was Doucette who finally beat Flagg to end the scoring at 52:03.

The Sharks held a 25-8 advantage in shots, while the Raiders held a slight edge in penalty corners, 8-7. Simmons returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Colby-Sawyer for a 12:00 p.m. start. Rivier will get ready to host Castleton State on Saturday afternoon at 1pm.