By Zack Downing, Staff Writer

After an unimpressive first half of the season filled with ties and losses, things were picking up the pace for the Corsairs women’s soccer team after they won three of their last four matches coming into their home game against Rhode Island College.

However, that momentum stalled as Rhode Island came out kicking and screaming.

They entered halftime down 2-0, but came back with a much greater offensive push.

In the 58th minute, Erica Farias scored a header off of a corner kick sent in by Jennifer Woehl to cut the lead to one.

It was Farias’s sixth goal of the season, which leads the team. Ironically, both women in on the play are Rhode Island natives.

The Corsairs kept pushing as the second half continued, with stronger offensive pushes and a firm defense. They outshot Rhode Island by 11-3 in the second half, but despite the attempts only one shot landed in the back of the net all day.

The teams looked evenly matched, and their season records were close, but some offside penalties and a slow first half for the Corsairs were the difference makers.

UMass Dartmouth looked to rebound traveling up to Keene State.

Keene State came out and quickly showed the Corsairs why they shouldn’t mess with them on their home turf. The Owls scored twenty minutes in with a shot from forward Taylor Farland, who put up four shots during the match.

Ten minutes later Keene State would put in another short shot on the UMass Dartmouth goalkeeper. Following the goal, Keene committed a foul to set up a free kick for the Corsairs.

The shot missed, and the Owls turned the ball around to deliver it down the field for their second score in under two minutes.

Suddenly, the score was 3-0. Keene State’s aggression didn’t stop, as they put in one more goal to make the score 4-0 at halftime.

The Corsairs offense showed some life as well, with a couple good shots on net that were saved by Danielle Warhal of Keene State.

However, both defenses kept the scoreboard quiet in the second half, and the game ended the way it started, 4-0 Keene State.

Both games this week were lost in the first half of play, so it’s evident that the team needs to work on their momentum control and offensive aggression. The Corsairs’ final game is at home facing Plymouth State on the 29 of October. Head to Cressy Field and support the team!