Wildcats fall to Framingham State in road opener
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - The Wheelock Wildcat field hockey team received another strong performance from Junior goalie Meredith Race (Marion, MA), but fell 9-0 to Framingham State College Saturday afternoon. Framingham was led by senior forward Kali Barrett (North Attleboro, MA) who netted two goals and two assists for the Rams. (Freshman Despina Savvoulides, one of nine new field hockey players is pictured right.)
The Rams (1-1) took a 1-0 lead just ten minutes into the game as they converted a penalty corner into their first goal of the season. Freshman forward Erica Fisher (Putnam Valley, NY) sent the corner to senior midfielder Katie Wotherspoon (Stafford, CT) at the top of the circle who tipped the ball to sophomore Kayleigh Force (Leominster, MA). Force converted off the pass from Wotherspoon for the game winner and her first goal of the season.
Framingham State extended their lead to 2-0 just under four minutes later as Barrett scored her first of the day off a cross from sophomore Kristen Gentili (Franklin, MA). The Rams would add two more goals before the half to push their lead to 4-0 at the break. Fisher scored her first collegiate goal in the 32nd minute off a penalty corner and an assist from Barrett while junior Kristen Sacco (Mendon, MA) scored an unassisted goal in the 34th minute.
Wheelock College (0-2) goalie Race made 15 saves on the day, while junior Allesha Kenyon (Westford, MA), senior Steph Bourgeois (Waltham, MA) and freshman Sarah Ryan (Uxbridge, MA) combined to pick up the shut out win for the Rams. Kenyon made two saves on the day, while Bourgeois made one.
Wheelock head coach Kyoungho Koh sees plenty of progress in her young team, as the Wildcats prepare to take on Fitchburg State Tuesday night at home.
"When you meet a team who has had a history of winning as Framingham State has, it is important to assess what we can learn, particularly when the goals against come as many as they did," Koh said. "What we know is that our energy was flat going out, and that at the half-time, we were able to improve. We learned that we need more time and experience together to move towards a level of play that Framingham possessed."
The Rams added five goals in the second half to reach the final margin of 9-0. Sacco and Barrett each added their second of the day, while freshman Nicole Lupien (Brooklyn, CT), sophomore Katie Barry (Fairhaven, MA) and freshman Cali Tetreaault (New Bedford, MA) added single goals.
