Women’s Soccer Falls in Season Opener at Fitchburg St.

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Rivier women's soccer team fell to Fitchburg St. in the season opener by a score of 2-1 on Friday evening at Elliot Field. 

After both teams had multiple chances through the early going, it was the home team that scored first as Adrianna Westcott snuck one past goalkeeper Bri Nugent with over nine minutes remaining in the first half. 

The Falcons would strike again quickly out of the halftime break as Noelle Kennedy put home a corner opportunity to put Fitchburg St. up by a pair just over a minute into the second half. 

Despite the deficit, the Raiders held their ground and with 22 minutes left to play in the contest, Jordan Butters darted up the middle finding Cadance Ryan on the left side who booted in the first Riv goal of the season to cut the Falcons' lead to one. 

Hot in pursuit of the equalizing tally, the Raiders would put five shots on goal over the remainder of regular, but Fitchburg St.'s goalkeeper Madison Dawkins was up to the task on each try to keep the Raiders at bay and preserve the one-goal lead until the final whistle. 

Rivier outshot the Falcons, 19-11, and put three more shots on goal than the hosts. Nugent made six saves in the setback. 

The Raiders will travel to face New England Col. in GNAC action on Wednesday, Sept. 6 with a kickoff of 7:00 p.m.