UMass Boston Beacons women’s soccer team wrapped up non-conference play last week going 1-0-1 with a 1-1 draw against Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a 2-1 win over Husson University.
Back at home last week on Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Beacons welcomed WPI to James Cotter Field under the lights. In a reverse of trends, it was the Engineers who got off to a fast start, scoring in the fifth minute after a stretch of sustained pressure by the front line of the Engineers, Lexi Carim sent a low lining cross the caromed off a Beacon foot and fell directly to an awaiting Olivia Toolin, who just had to redirect it into the net for her third goal of the 2024 campaign.
The Beacon’s response would be swift despite not holding the ball for much of the game; however, possession does not matter when you score from the spot. In the 15th minute, as the Beacons offense continued to try to find some sort of momentum, freshman forward Sofia Schallmo— who’s made plays beyond her years all season—collected the ball and whipped it across where it caught the hand of a WPI defender. There was no hesitation as the referee pointed to the spot for a kick. A penalty for the Beacons, and Schallmo made no mistake blasting the ball past WPI keeper Lili Hellerman. From there, a physically tightly contested game where every inch of turf was fought for ensued over the next 75 minutes.
WPI was mostly controlling the ball, but the Beacons weren’t giving up any ground. Both goalies would be asked to make tough saves, and made them, with Julia Cote making seven for UMass Boston and Hellerman making five, subduing each team’s effort on offense. This was the Beacons third tie of the year.
Umass Boston’s win over Husson University in Bangor, ME was more of what is becoming expected from this young Beacons squad. With early leads backed up by rock solid goalkeeping, the Beacons attacked the Eagles early and often with their young forwards continuing to link up with two goals in the opening 25 minutes.
Scoring those two goals was once again Sofia Schallmo, she netted both in under four minutes; in the 20th minute Schallmo unleashed a low liner that was placed in the bottom corner, past the outstretched arm of Madison Weigler, then benefited from a Daniella Celotto pass in the box, and didn’t miss.
Those would be the freshman’s fourth and fifth goals of the season, a total has come scoring in four consecutive games combined with six assists on the season. It looks like the Beacons have a good young talent in Schallmo.
Heading into October, the Beacons are in a familiar spot as head coach Amy Zombeck’s squad once again has found themselves battling for the top spot of the Little East Conference. But Zombeck will be the first to tell her players that in-conference play is a bigger animal, with LEC challenges twice a week until the end of the month, “it’s a different mentality,” said Zombeck.
The final stretch of the season will prove to be a difficult one for the Beacons, headlined by a trip up to Southern Maine, they’ll face the winners of the last two LEC conference tournaments headlined by a win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year over Rowan University. The Beacons will travel up to Gorham on Oct. 16, in what is shaping up to be a heavyweight bout.
But before Southern Maine, a pair of home games are upcoming for the Beacons. They face off against UMass Dartmouth in their second LEC matchup of the season on Wednesday, Oct. 3. UMass Dartmouth is sitting at 3-4-2
on the season as of Sept. 28, but with such little interconference play at this point, the regular season crown is still wide open. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Beacons play host in a Saturday matinee against the always tough Rhode Island College. The Anchormen are nipping at the Beacon’s heels, sitting a record of 6-4, as of Sept. 28. Now is the time to separate in the LEC.