The University of Rhode Island women’s soccer team played their final home game of the season on Sunday, falling 2-1 on senior night to Davidson College for their 14th straight loss.
In the first half both teams played to a stalemate with Davidson failing to capitalize on its five corner kicks compared to just two for the Rams. Each team took three shots, but despite those corners, both teams registered a measly one shot-on-goal apiece.
There was also some frustration coming from two teams who haven’t quite had the season they had hoped for with Rhody committing three fouls, and Davidson being called for two.
The second-half play continued to stay even, until Davidson’s Adelaide Cummings connected on a cross from Maggie Boyd to put the Wildcats up 1-0 in the 52nd minute.
“We did not play well enough in front of our own net,†head coach Michael Needham said.
Despite giving up the game-winning goal in the second half, the Rams played a solid second half and had their chances. Rhody outshot Davidson 9-7 and had three of those shots come on-goal, as compared to just one of Davidson’s four shots.
The second half also showed a far more frustrated Rhode Island team as they were called for eight fouls in just that half alone; 11 fouls on the day.
The frustration for Rhody could have also come from the perceived lack of calls going their way as the Wildcats were called for just one foul in the second half. Needham was given a yellow card for excessive complaining in the 85th minute.
Rhody had some chances in the second half, but could not connect when they needed to, despite their high shot total. Despite that and the tough senior day Needham is still proud.
“I have coached them for four years, so I care about [the seniors] a lot,†Needham said.
The loss brings the Rhode Island season to an end with a losing streak of 14 consecutive games, a winless conference slate and a 3-15-1 overall record.