Nashua, NH - Both Taylor Miranda (Smithtown, NY) and Gabrielle Balestrier (Mohnton, PA) scored two goals each as the Suffolk University Rams beat the Rivier Raiders 4-1 in a toughly played GNAC women's soccer game.

Suffolk out shot Rivier 14-8 on the night, but real difference came in the form of shots on goal.  Suffolk had the edge 11-2 in that category and that was the difference in the game.  Rivier was unable to capitalize on a number of opportunities with wide shots that went right by the goal.  Suffolk, on the other hand, made the most of their opportunities scoring 4 times on the day.

The entire first half was played tight as the first goal was not scored until past the 37 minute mark where Miranda scored two goals, back to back, less than 10 minutes apart.  Both goals were unassisted and put the Rams up 2-0.  As the half was coming to a close Balestrier added her first goal off a centering pass from Leslie Hayden (Ross, CA) to make the score 3-0 going into the half. 

Balestrier added her second and the teams fourth goal at 60:38 to put the Rams up 4-0.  The Raiders were finally able to get on the board less than a minute later when Christina Parent (Loudon, NH) got an unassisted goal to make the final score 4-1.

Suffolk goal keeper Emily Joyce (Easton, MA) picked up the win as the Rams improved to 5-2-1 overall and 4-2 in GNAC play.  Joyce made just 1 save and allowed 1 goal.  Rivier's Christine Surber (Langdon, NH) took the loss as the Raiders fall to 5-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the GNAC.  Surber allowed all 4 goals and made 7 saves in the loss.

The Raiders will play next in the second game of a men's and women's double header on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 3:00 pm.