By Michael Alves
Framingham State Women’s Soccer was shut out yet again in back-to-back games at home.
The Rams struggled yet again to develop any scoring opportunities for themselves, despite having home-field advantage.
Every time the Rams drove towards the Lynxes’ goal, the ball was cleared out with no hesitation.
Early and abruptly into the first half, FSU Rams freshman goalkeeper Sarah Lutsic went down with an injury. Forward junior Calen Frongillo unexpectedly took over in goal for the rest of the night.
The Lynx did nothing but capitalize on the given opportunity when junior forward Macey Merlo netted her second goal of the season on an assist from freshman defender Isabella Danna to make it a 1-0 game.
Regardless of the Lesley University Lynx outshooting the Rams 12-2 in the Frst half, they went without another goal for the remaining 40 minutes.
The Lynx would come back with more firepower only seven minutes into the second half when senior Julianna Rossini would put up another goal for Lesley on an exceptional pass from junior Calli Masters to make it 2-0.
Graduate forward Courtney McCluskey would later contribute to the shooting frenzy when she sent one into the back of the net on a pass from Rossini to make it 3-0 in the waning six minutes of the match.
Lesley ended up bombarding Framingham State with shots 22-3, but only eight shots went on net for the Lynx.
In spite of the inaccuracy of the Lynxes’ shots, the Rams yet again struggled to create any scoring chance for themselves, while they also could not seem to maintain possession of the ball over midfield for much time at all.
Despite the outcome of the game, Frongillo undoubtedly stepped up to the plate big time for the FSU Rams, as the forward made an impressive five stops in goal.
Freshman forward Megan Ethier said the team has had “really good energy coming off some wins” and their “team chemistry has come together towards the end of the season.”
Ethier said the team’s ultimate achievement for the rest of the season is to “win some more games, finish some more of those balls and get our scoring percentage up. I think that’d be great.”
Freshman Abby Savard said that the team overall needs to improve on “crashing the net more after shooting because that was a big thing all game. Their goalie dropped the ball a lot and if we were right there, we could’ve gotten the rebound.”
Savard added that “just being back to normal and regular rules” this season after the hiatus of COVID-19 was the best part about competing again. “With COVID, there were a lot of different rules. There was no contact and no air balls, so just actually being able to play the game normally – that’s fun.”
Framingham State Women’s Soccer team advances to 4-9-1 on the season, and they will next take on Mass. Maritime, who is on a three-game losing streak, at home Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m.