Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. -- Leigh Howard scored on a 35-yard free kick in the first half and Jenny Ley knocked in a one-timer on a cross from Elisa Dolan in the second half as Trinity College snapped a four-match losing streak and handed the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team its fourth loss in the last five matches, 2-1, Wednesday night at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
With Eastern (7-8-0) trailing 2-0, junior forward Daniela Marchitto (Orange) was taken down in the box near the end line with five minutes left and converted a penalty kick goal with a hard drive inside the left post – her team-leading tenth of the year and 28th of her three-year career -- to pull the Warriors to within a goal.
Now 2-2-3 against Trinity (5-5-2) in the last seven meetings, Eastern spent most of the second half in the Bantams' end of the field but could only muster Marchitto's penalty-kick goal. Ley's second goal of the season on a one-timer off an end-line cross from Dolan with seven minutes left was answered by Marchitto two minutes later, but the Warriors did not threaten over the final five minutes.
The Bantams, who have lost four of their matches this year to teams ranked among this week's top six in New England, threatened twice in the first 15 minutes before breaking through in the 18th minute on Howard's third goal of the year. Awarded a free kick from 35 yards out after the Warriors were issued a yellow card, Howard nailed a hard drive which sailed just under the cross bar inside the near right post.
Twelve minutes into the match, Eastern junior keeper Mackenzie MacLeod (Northfield) robbed Trinity's Katie Giberson by diving to her left to make a save at the right post to keep Trinity off the board. Eight minutes later, Giberson leaped to head a serve from Dolan wide of the left post.
With the match still scoreless a minute later, Eastern senior Sam Konopka (Hebron) sent a free kick from the right side on goal. Trinity keeper Lily Pepper was unable to handle the play cleanly, and the ball landed at the feet of senior Jo-Ann Merheb (Bethel), who volleyed the loose ball over the crossbar.
Eastern outshot Trinity 19-10 – including 14-4 in the second half – and did not allow a corner kick in the match.
Eastern plays its fourth straight home match Saturday when it hosts the University of Southern Maine at 1 p.m. in a Little East Conference match.
The Warriors, winners of the last 12 meetings against Southern Maine, enter play Saturday sharing second place in the conference with Western Connecticut, both teams a game back of leader Keene State College. Also Saturday, Keene visits UMass Dartmouth and Western visits UMass Boston.
