Aug. 27, 2006

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. -

The University of Rhode Island women's soccer team opened the 2006 season with a 2-0 win over Siena on Sunday, August 27. The Rams were led by junior Deb Nelson (Chepachet, R.I.) who had four shots on goal and netted the game-winner in the 86th minute.

Nelson came close to giving URI the lead just eight minutes into the game when she redirected a corner kick from junior Thorunn Jonsdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland) just wide of the net. Freshman Kassandra Spitler (Montoursville, Pa.) also had the chance to put Rhody on the board at the 14:33 mark when she sent a pass from Nelson a little too far to the right, missing the net and giving Siena possession of the ball.

The Rams continued to pressure the Saints' defense as grad student Amy Cochran (Keene, N.H.) blasted a shot that was blocked by a Siena defender just two minutes later. Cochran continued the aggressive attack throughout the first half, but could not seem to solve the Saints' defense which went on to block her next three shots. Despite outshooting Siena, 12-1, the Rams headed into halftime in a scoreless tie.

Siena's best scoring opportunity came in the 83rd minute when Amy Loughridge set up for a free kick just outside the box. With Loughridge unable to lift the ball over the wall of Rhode Island defenders, the Rams gained control of the ball and moved play up the field where Nelson finally found the back of the net at 85:09.

The Saints had a great opportunity to grab the equalizer, but were shut down by freshman goalkeeper Danielle van Vierssen (East Greenwich, R.I.), who entered the game in the 32^nd minute after the starting goalkeeper, freshman Jackie Fede (Cheshire, Conn.), left the game with an injury.

Rhode Island grabbed an insurance goal in the 88th minute when Cochran sent a pass from Spitler past Siena's Carey Winkler, leading the Rams a 2-0 season-opening victory. The win marked Rhode Island's ninth-consecutive victory in a home-opener and extended the Ram's unbeaten streak at home to nine games dating back to the 2004 season.

The Rams (1-0-0) return to action on Wednesday, August 30, when they travel to in-state rival Providence for a 4:00 p.m. match against the Friars (0-0-1).