Beacons Edge Vikings 1-0

SALEM, Mass. – Grace Oliver (Rockland, Mass.) scored late in the second half as UMass Boston defeated Salem State 1-0 at Alumni Field on Saturday afternoon. The Beacons improve to 3-3 on the year while the Vikings go to 1-3.  

Both teams battled through a scoreless first half. The Beacons, who held a slight advantage in shots (6-2), had the best scoring opportunities of either team in the opening half. Kelly McNeil (Marshfield, Mass.) got behind the Salem State defense in the 21^st minute, but was met by keeper Rebecca Sabino (Peabody, Mass.), who thwarted the attempt with a nice diving stop. Less than three minutes later Isa Andrade (Cambridge, Mass.) hit the post, which denied the Beacons an early 1-0 lead.

The scoreless stalemate continued into the second half. As the rain increased, so did the intensity and not until Oliver looped a shot into the upper right corner of the net after Salem State's keeper got caoght out of the net was the game decided.  

Rebecca Sabino (Peabody, Mass.) made seven saves for Salem State while Maria Spylios (Leominster, Mass.) stopped three shots for UMass Boston, which held a 15-3 advantage in shots.