Worcester, MA --- Cara Murtagh (Quincy, MA) scored the only goal of the game at 26:20 to help Framingham State defeat host WPI 1-0 in a non-conference women's soccer match on Thursday night at Alumni Field. Framingham State is now 6-7 on the season while the Engineers, who dropped their third straight 1-0 decision, are now 5-10.
The first half saw both teams with several great scoring opportunities. The Engineers had the first crack at it when
Megan Forti (Lynn, MA) took a pass from
Kaitlin Doherty (Scarborough, ME) in the 16th minute and broke free to the net. FSU goalkeeper
Jess Anthony (Stoneham, MA) came out to cut the angle down and Forti fired a shot wide.
The Rams countered that opportunity nearly six minutes later when
Isabela DeSouza (Framingham, MA) had a great look at the goal but her shot was denied by WPI goaltender
Maddie Willer (Penfield, NY).
Framingham State broke up the scoreless draw when Murtagh struck a well-placed cross from classmate Kayla Austin off the fingertips of a diving Willer for a 1-0 lead. The goal at 26:20 was the sophomore's third marker of the season.
Willer would keep her team in the game when she made a diving save on a rocket from
Marisa Parent (Revere, MA) with 5:12 left in the first half. WPI had several more scoring opportunities late in the first half.
Emily Doherty (Shrewsbury, MA) rifled a shot on net but Anthony was up to the task and made a diving save. Anthony assured the Rams took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at intermission when she turned aside a breakaway attempt by Forti with less than two minutes to go before the half.
The Rams controlled the early part of the second stanza, attempting the first four shots in the opening eight minutes only to see Willer turn away three and Tricia Swierk (Saugus, MA) block the fourth. WPI controlled possession time from that point forward but neither team generated a tremendous scoring chance on their four shots the rest of the way.
Anthony totaled three saves en route to her second win and first shutout of the season. Willer was credited with 10 saves on the night for the Engineers.
The visitors ended with a 17-9 edge in shots and attempted all three of the game's corner kicks.
WPI closes out its four-game homestand Saturday with its 2012 Alumni Field finale. The Engineers host NEWMAC foe Wellesley at 1pm. Framingham State concludes its four-game road trip the same day with an 11am trip to MASCAC leader Westfield State.
