CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University freshman Skylar Ripley (Yuba City, Calif.) forced a turnover and beat the Suffolk University goalkeeper one-on-one in the 83rd minute to give the Lynx a 1-0 season-opening win over the Rams. With the victory, the Lynx avenged a 0-1 defeat to the Rams during the 2012 campaign and get off to a 1-0 start on the season.
After a start that saw much of the play reside in the middle of the field, each time squandered great opportunities to find the back of the net in the 22nd minute. After Lesley saw a header by freshman Walker Panek (Carlsbad, Calif.) clank off the nearside post following a cross into the box, the Rams had a chance on the counter when junior Juan Lazcano Bello (Madrid, Spain) was able to squeeze through the Lynx backline and past senior keeper Nathan Trucks (Guilford, Conn.), but he was unable to get a shot through due to great hustle by Lesley juniors Ray Cohen (Coventry, Conn.) and Herbin Berreondo (Brighton, Mass.) who raced back to block the shot out of bounds, keeping the game scoreless.
Nine minutes into the second half Suffolk threatened again when sophomore Tyler Parmelee (Colchester, Conn.) settled a bouncing ball and launched a shot from 30 yards out to see it sail just over the cross bar. Just one minute later, Rams senior Jeff Williams (Geneva, Ill.) sent a free kick that forced Trucks to make a blocking save, but Suffolk was unable to capitalize on the rebound as Berreondo came up big again clearing the ball to the sideline.
Lesley created a few chances of their own in the second half, the first coming when sophomore Chris Hunt (San Diego, Calif.) one-timed a bouncing ball from the top-right side of the box, but his shot sailed high over the bar. Three minutes later the Lynx followed up with another opportunity when junior Jordan Santos (Middlebury, Conn.) found the head of Berreondo, but saw his attempt skip just wide of the near post.
As the game moved closer to overtime, Ripley was able to flick the ball out of the possession of a Suffolk defender and dribbled into the box before placing a shot just passed the outstretched arms of charging Suffolk goalkeeper James Potter (North Kingstown, R.I.), and sealed the win for the Lynx on what was a spectacular individual effort.
The Lynx will return to action on Sunday, September 1st when they travel to Mount Ida College for a 2:00p start. The two teams played to a 1-1 tie in last year's meeting.
Suffolk will open up their home schedule on Tuesday, September 3rd when they play host to UMass-Boston at 7:00p.