BOSTON, Mass.  – Freshman midfielder and this week's Little East Conference Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week McKenna Hallinan continued her hot streak, netting her third goal of the season in the first half against UMass Dartmouth to help give UMass Boston Women's Soccer their third consecutive win and second straight conference win, 2-0, on Wednesday afternoon.  

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 2, UMass Dartmouth 0

UMass Boston (4-7-2, 2-3 LEC)

UMass Dartmouth (3-9-1, 1-4 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Defense reigned supreme in the early going for both teams with each side recording just one shot on goal through the first 24 minutes of the match. Graduate forward Kaitlyn Bernier looked to get the scoring started, firing two shots on net against senior goalkeeper Maria Spylios in the 25^th and 26^th minutes, but was turned away.

Moments after Bernier's second shot came Hallinan's third goal in the last seven days as senior forward Kaylee Haynes streaked up the right side of the field before crossing a pass to Hallinan in front of the net who fired the shot into the top of the net past sophomore goalkeeper Madison Durkin.

Neither team would register a quality scoring chance in the remainder of the first half as the Beacons held an 8-5 lead in shots and 3-1 edge in shots on goal.

The defense continued to be the story of the second half with both teams recording just three shots and each recording one save. UMass Boston would extend their lead to two goals in the 63^rd minute when a corner kick from junior defender Caileigh Sullivan found the head of junior forward Nour Chouiki who knocked the ball into the back of the goal mouth, helping give the Beacons some breathing room and the eventual 2-0 win.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• McKenna Hallinan has now scored a goal in three consecutive matches as well as registered a point  
• The second half goal by Nour Chouiki was the first of her collegiate career
• Maria Spylios earned her third shutout of the season, stopping all 3 shots she faced
• UMass Boston now holds the tiebreaker against UMass Dartmouth and Rhode Island College in the Little East Conference standings as they make their playoff push

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will look to keep their winning streak going in a pivotal Little East Conference matchup against Keene State College this upcoming Saturday at 1:00 PM. Entering the day, UMass Boston sat in eighth place in the conference, and on the outside looking in at the LEC Tournament which features the top six conference teams, making the win against the Corsairs and the match on Saturday all the more important.