October 25, 2012

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.- After being held in check for three straight games, UMass Boston (15-2) broke out in a huge way to earn their program-record 15th win of the season Thursday afternoon, behind a historic day from Krista Ledin (Bridgewater, Mass.) in their 7-1 win over Framingham State University (6-9-1) at Maple Street Field.

Ledin joined former teammate Kristin Mulry ('12) as the only Beacons in program history to reach 100 points for their career. The sophomore forward who came in needing four points to reach 100, finished with eight, behind two goals and four assists. Her four assists set a new program-record for most assists in a single game, while her eight points tie her own career-high and the program record for points in a single game.

She reached the 100 point mark when she assisted on a Tayla Andrews (Plymouth, Mass.) goal in the first half. The reigning Little East Conference Rookie of The Year now has 53 points in just 16 games this season and 103 in 39 games for her career. With the eight points, Ledin also bested her program record for points in a single season for a year ago (50 points) and became only the second player in Little East Conference history to record 20 goals and 10 assists in the same season.

Andrews added two goals of her own for the Beacons, while Sam Cristoforo (Rockland, Mass.), Samantha Fallon (Pembroke, Mass.) and Sam Bendick (New Egypt, N.J.) each scored a goal for the Beacons. It was the first goal of Fallon's career, while Bendick scored her second career goal and first since the second game of the season.

The Beacons got off to an early lead behind Andrews and Ledin. Andrews and Ledin traded goals with each player assisting the other to give the Beacons a 2-0 lead. At the 29:50 mark, Ledin broke the 100-point mark when she sent a through ball that drew the goalie off her line to set up Andrews on the third goal of the game.

With her two goals and an assist, Andrews is just six points shy of becoming the third player in program history to reach the 100-point plateau. She also broke her own career-high for points in a season with 41, to edge her freshman campaign when she won the LEC Rookie of the Year by scoring 16 goals and adding four assists.

Framingham State cut into the lead before halftime, when the Rams were awarded a penalty kick for a hard tackle in the box, and Kayla Austin converted to make it 3-1.

That would be the only goal freshman Kristen Spain (Quincy, Mass.) allowed, as Spain made six saves on seven shots. With the win, Spain earned her 14th victory, matching Dani Perkins (Murrieta, Calif.) for the most wins in a single-season in program history with 14 (14-2).

UMass Boston would dominate the second half and scored four goals over the final 24 minutes of regulation.

The Beacons got it started when the Rams were called for a handball in the box and Cristoforo converted her first penalty kick goal of the season to make it 4-0 at the 66:43 mark. Less than 30 seconds later, Ledin made it 5-0 when she dribbled down the sideline and sent a low shot into the net for her league-leading 22nd goal of the season.

Three minutes later, Fallon became the third Beacons freshman to score a goal this season, when she received a low cross from Ledin and blew the ball by McKenzie Vershon. Bendick finished off the scoring with just over a minute to play, when she gathered up Ledin's rebound off the cross-bar and knocked home her second goal of the year. 

UMass Boston outshot the Rams 23-16 and held a 3-2 edge on corner kicks. 

The Beacons will finish off their regular season schedule when they host Plymouth State University Saturday at 1 p.m. for the Beacons Senior Day Game.