White's Goal Catapults Rams To Victory

Worcester - For the second straight contest, freshman striker Megan White scored the game’s lone goal and today it catapulted Framingham State past host Clark University, 1-0, in non-league women’s soccer action at Granger Soccer Field.

White – a Worcester-area native from nearby Charlton – took a feed from Angela Pallotta and slipped a shot past Cougar netminder Gabby Paolini at 14:22.

That goal was all that the Rams would need as their netminder Sara Sullivan and Paolini matched spectacular saves as the game wore on.

The win for Framingham State sends their record to 2-0-0, while the Scarlet and White, who were playing their third game in five days, falls to 1-2-0.

In what turned out to be a pretty physical contest that saw the Rams whistled for 14 of the 17 fouls called, it was White’s early goal that proved to be the difference.

Both teams had excellent scoring chances throughout but fantastic play in net kept the game at 1-0.

Midway through the second half, the Rams had a chance to extend their lead when Meghan Kenny broke in free on Paolini, but her attempt was thwarted by Paolini. The rebound bounced out to Pallotta but her try was also turned aside by a sprawling Paolini.

Clark’s best chance to even the score came in the 79th minute when after a Nikki Feinberg corner kick, Alex Easton had her sliding shot sent back by a diving Sullivan, who bounced back to her feet to deny Katherine Swierk.

The contest was played pretty evenly with the Rams holding a slight 13-12 edge in shots, each goalkeeper making six saves and the Cougars holding a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Paolini’s six saves gives her 347 for her career, moving her into sole possession of fourth place on the school’s all-time saves list.

The Rams return to the field on Tuesday when they welcome WPI to Maple Street Field.

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Release courtesy of Clark University and Framingham State University.