Bentley Women Hold Off Dowling

Cheryl Boyd's First Half Brace Leads Falcons

Sept. 8, 2009

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Senior Cheryl Boyd (Holliston, Mass.) scored two first half goals and the Bentley University women�s soccer team withstood Dowling�s second half comeback attempt to post a 2-1, non-conference win Monday afternoon.

Bentley grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Boyd�s first goal of the season in the fourth minute. Boyd gained possession of the ball about 35 yards away from the net and proceeded to dribble into the box. Then from 15 yards away, Boyd ripped a shot that beat Dowling keeper Alicia Commisso and into the left corner of the net.

The Falcons continued to apply pressure on Dowling and nearly scored again in the 21st minute. Sophomore Amy Wagner lofted a shot from the penalty area over the head of Commisso, but the ball clanked off the crossbar.

In the 31st minute, Bentley�s efforts were rewarded when Boyd broke in on net with the ball and was taken down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Boyd stepped up and calmly beat Commisso to the left with a low shot to give Bentley a 2-0 advantage.

The Falcons generated most of the scoring chances in the first half and that was reflected in their 9-4 advantage in shots.

Dowling, however, turned the tables in the second half and a majority of the scoring chances went their way. They cut into Bentley�s lead early in the half on a goal by senior Vanessa Moreira. Freshman Alexis Parrotta got the play started by cutting a through ball into the box and Moreira ran the ball down, took a few dribbles and scored from eight yards away.

The Golden Lions had another scoring chance in the 59th minute when a shot by forward Kate Collins hit the post.

Bentley�s best chance of the second half came in the 64th minute when freshman Laura Muise (Newburyport, Mass.) chipped a pass to an open Boyd near the top of the box, but Commisso came out to snatch the ball away.

Dowling�s final opportunity to find the equalizer came in the 81st minute when Moreira hit the left post on a shot from 10 yards away.

Despite Dowling�s 16-2 second half shots advantage, the Falcons� defense held strong thanks in large part to goalie Kara Smith (West Springfield, Mass.) making five saves in the second frame.