BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons junior Meredith Riker (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) broke the stalemate less than eight minutes into the second half to lift the Sharks to a 1-0 victory over the Wellesley College Blue Wednesday evening.

The Sharks (10-7, 8-4 GNAC) honored their six seniors, Michaela Schilling (York, Maine), Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, N.H.), Melissa Rowe (Southport, S.C.), Jen Prescott (Cambridge, Vt.), Ally Ayotte (Litchfield, N.H.) and Alma-Lynn Dupont (Bowling Green, Ohio) prior to the start of the game for all of their hard work and dedication to the Simmons soccer program.

Simmons tested Wellesley goalkeeper Kat Goldsmith early, as Beauchamp posted three shots and Keri Acheson (Peabody, Mass.) added a fourth but the Sharks were unable to convert. The Blue (7-9-1, 4-4 NEWMAC) regained position and transitioned the ball into the Sharks defensive end. Emily Wilson and Jennifer Marble recorded shots on goal but Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) was there to make the saves and keep the game scoreless.

In the second half, the Sharks were awarded a penalty corner at 52:20. Simmons junior Kristyn Heuslein (Manchester, N.H.) sent a cross into the Blue's defensive box, which bounced out of Claire Cerda's hands but Riker was there to convert on the rebound to give the Sharks the only lead they would need. The Sharks had two more chances to increase the lead when Beauchamp drilled a long ball off the post from just over the 25-yard line and Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) just missed a cross ball from Rowe.

The Blue continued to lay on the offensive pressure in the second half with shots by Ava Mokhtari and Megan Turchi but were Sharks goalkeeper Amber Verrill (Windham, Maine) made the necessary saves to protect the 1-0 victory.

The Sharks return to action on Sunday, October 28th when they host Albertus Magnus in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference quarterfinal match at 11:00 a.m.