Sept. 20, 2002

Amherst, Mass. - The University of Rhode Island women's soccer team posted a thrilling 2-1 upset victory against No. 9 Auburn at the UMass Classic in Amherst, Mass., on Friday evening.

Auburn got on the board first in the 28th minute as Niki Schier sent an on-target feed up the middle to sophomore Sarah Steinmann, who was charging from the left side. Steinmann beat the Rhode Island goalkeeper, Jamie Epperlein, to the ball and sent the shot low into the goal for her second score of the season. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Rhode Island freshman standout Melanie Kasparek knotted the game at 1-1 in the 51st minute when she beat the Auburn keeper on a breakaway. Melanie Kasparek struck again at the 57:08 mark when she put a ball off the Auburn keeper to give the Rams the 2-1 lead. With less than nine minutes remaining in the game, Auburn had an open goal opportunity as Epperlein fell trying to stop a shot, but a Rams' defender stepped in to block the shot.

Rhode Island, now 4-2-1 for the season, will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 22 when it travels to Nickerson Field at Boston University for a non-conference matchup with the Terriers at Noon.