Medford, MA- In the nightcap of the men's and women's soccer doubleheader, the Women's Soccer nearly came away with a win against the Word of Life Bible Institute Huskies. Leading 2-1 at the half, multiple injuries forced the Falcons to play a man down, allowing a second half surge from the Huskies to come from behind and take the victory 4-3. With another hard fought loss, the Falcons fall to 1-6-1 on the season.
Playing smart defensively out the gate, the Falcons forced three offside penalties in the first ten minutes of play, frustrating the Huskies offense. A foul for the Huskies allowed Falcons keeper Olivia Handy (La Verne, CA) a free kick into the Husky zone. Handy's strong kick allowed Grace Roach (Hutchinson, MN) an open look at the net to try to get her team an early lead. Her shot was deflected by the hand of a Husky defender, and for the second time in two days, Roach knocked home a penalty kick to put the Falcons up 1-0. Just minutes later, the Falcons tallied another one not of ordinary fashion. This time, Handy picked up a loose ball in front of the Falcons net and blasted a kick 90 yards over everyone, including the Husky keeper Geena Taylor, to put her team up 2-0 at the 13:09 mark. WOLBI responded though and started to figure out the Falcons defensive strategy allowing for some open looks. With the clock showing 26:51, WOLBI'S Mollie Biggerstaff found Shay Carey to beat Handy to make it a 2-1 game. The Huskies continued to put on pressure, out shooting the Falcons 6-0 the rest of the half, but two huge saves by Handy late in the half kept it 2-1 headed to the break.
The Huskies responded well to the break, scoring with just 90 seconds into the second half as Carey manuevered her way around the Falcons defense for an open look for her second goal of the game, knotting the game at two a piece. Not even two minutes later the Husky offense took the lead as Carey crossed one across the net for Kara Spiezio who knocked it home for their first lead of the contest, 3-2. The Falcons were eager to earn the lead back though, as Carla DaSilva (Somerville, MA) had two scoring chances before the 55th minute, but Taylor was able to come up with the saves to keep her team in the lead. WOLBI knew they were playing a man up so they continued to pressure the defense and at the 73:41 mark Carey earned herself a hat trick as Lydia Slattery made a nice pass from the right side of the box allowing Carey to drive it passed Handy for the 4-2 lead.
The Falcons did not give up though, and three minutes later, Roach, DaSilva and Tiffany Martinez (San Francisco, CA) swarmed the keeper with pressure. After DaSilva got off a clean shot that was deflected by the Husky keeper, the Falcons maintained possesion and Roach found herself open for a shot at the top of the box and she blasted it over the head of Taylor to bring the score to 4-3 with less than 14 minutes on the clock. Fisher had another strong opportunity in the 83rd minute, earning a corner kick, but could not finish and fell to the visiting Huskies 4-3.
DaSilva and Roach led the way for the Falcons with seven shots combined, while Roach finished with two goals bringing her season point total to 12. Handy played amazing in goal yet again, making eight saves in the losing effort, while scoring her first goal as a Falcon. Geena Taylor earned the win for WOLBI, making four saves in the victory.
Fisher is back on the road as they take on the Bay Path Wildcats on Thursday with the action set to kick off at 3:30pm.