The Mount Ida College women's soccer team dropped their fourth consecutive loss and their third straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match-up downed 1-0 by visiting Simmons College in Newton, Massachusetts Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs fall to 1-4-1 overall and have yet to capture a conference victory (0-3-0) while the Sharks improve to 2-3-1, 1-1-0 in GNAC play.
Mount Ida had a legitimate chance, one of few on the day, to net a score in 33rd minute on a cross from senior Rebecca Tisbert (Cambridge, VT/Lamoille Union) to senior Michelle Alessi (Salem, MA/Bishop Fenwick) in front of the net. Alessi hammered a good attempt that was smothered by Sharks goaltender sophomore Ashley Wheeler (Nashua, NH/Nashua) for a failed chance.
Throughout the remainder of the first half each team had their opportunities but neither squad could convert a score before the midway horn going into the break knotted at zero's (0-0).
The Sharks finally took a bite out of the Mustangs in the 65th minute of play on an unassisted score from senior Anna Stella (Sharon, MA/Sharon). Stella won a 50/50 ball in transition at the top left corner of the 18 yard box and fired a shot over the head of Mount Ida goalkeeper Meghan Begins (Jericho, VT/Jericho) that fell in the right corner for the 1-0 advantage.
The Mustangs continued their offensive woes unable to generate any threat of a goal while the visitors rode out their 1-0 victory with solid defense down the stretch for the GNAC victory.
Mount Ida goaltender Begins continued to shine with 12 big saves for the hosts while Wheeler was also solid for the Shark denying five Mustang shots.
Mount Ida will head on the road for the next two games starting at GNAC foe Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island this coming Tuesday with the start time slated for 3:30 p.m.