Women’s soccer struggles against Lesley

By Avery Slavin Editorial Staff By Andrew Louis Staff Writer The Framingham State Rams fell to the Lesley University Lynx 1-0 in a hard-fought match on home turf Oct. 14. This brings their conference record to 3-0-1 and their overall record to 5-5-1. Lesley took their first shot just after the clock passed the 3-minute mark, but it was too high to make it inside the net. The ball was sent back and forth for the next 12 minutes, both teams aggressive on offense in an attempt to gain possession. The Lynx were able to keep possession long enough to shoot the ball toward the net to break the Rams’ defense and get a point on the board, but they were unsuccessful. Another 11 minutes brought the next goal attempt from Lesley, who were keeping the pressure on the Rams. The shot was sent wide. Eager to earn their first point, Lesley sent the ball toward sophomore goalkeeper Amelia Finley, hoping it would slip by her, but Finley stayed strong on defense and saved the shot. A corner kick from the Lynx concluded the first half. At the beginning of the second half, both teams were still held scoreless. Junior Beyonce Gray sent the first shot of the half on net for the Rams at 50:24, but it was saved by the Lynx’s goalkeeper, Taylor Leiker. The ball continued to go back and forth, allowing Finley to get a stop of her own at 51:21. Gray was given a yellow card for Framingham, and right after, a shot by Lesley was saved once again by Finley. Both teams continued to substitute their players, attempting to get into a rhythm. Lesley put Cameron Wedding in the game at 67:19, who broke the deadlock a minute later, scoring the game’s only goal to put Lesley up 1-0. Finley kept the game within reach with another saved shot from the Lynx. As the game closed in on the 80-minute mark, both teams had a total of 10 substitutions. These fresh legs on the field created a fighting chance for the Rams. Senior Tarynn Smith put the Rams on the attack with a shot saved by Leiker. Sophomore Leiyani Buckner forced another save from Leiker, and then took a corner kick at 85:34, but the Rams could not convert. Lesley answered when Wedding sent a shot wide. Smith had the final chance of the game at 89:51, but Leiker made the save to secure the 1-0 score for Lesley. The Rams host the Westfield State Owls for a conference matchup Oct. 17.