BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season, falling to New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI), 3-1, on Thursday afternoon at Warrior Field.
Massasoit (6-1-1) will look to get back to its winning ways on Saturday, with a pivotal Region XXI showdown at Holyoke CC slated for 1 p.m.
NHTI (5-3-1) struck in the eighth minute of action, when forward Alicia Blair netted a goal on a breakaway to give the visiting squad an early 1-0 cushion.
The Lynx kept the pressure on the Warriors, and eventually extended its lead to 2-0 when Cydney McIntrye found the back of the net. The goal came off a rebound on a great save by Massasoit keeper Laura Ellis (Raynham/Bristol-Plymouth Voc), but McIntrye was there for a second chance.
NHTI outshot the Warriors 10-5 in the opening stanza.
In the second half, play switched in favor of Massasoit. In the 50th minute, Silvia Sosa (New Milford, N.J.) was taken down by a Lynx defender, setting up a free kick opportunity for the Warriors. Midfielder Gina Nutting (Rockland) rifled a free kick shot past the Lynx keeper to pull within a single goal.
The Warriors kept firing off shots, taking eight in the second half, but were unable to put any away.
NHTI's Blair netted the backbreaker, scoring off a scrum in front of the net in the 75th minute to put the game out reach for the Warriors.
Nutting, Ashley Westover (Stoughton/Cardinal Spellman HS) and Shelby Sprague (Stoughton) all finished with three shots a piece. Ellis made six saves in net for Massasoit.