NEW LONDON, Conn. – A young Eastern Connecticut State University field hockey team -- featuring newcomers at half of the starting positions -- played Connecticut College to a scoreless second half Thursday afternoon on the Artifical Turf at Silfen Field.

An encouraging second half tempered a disappointing first half for Eastern (5-8), which allowed two goals in the first 18 minutes and couldn't overcome Conn's (5-3) four-goal first half in a 4-0 non-conference loss.

The loss was the third straight by shutout for Eastern, which has gone 240 minutes since scoring its last goal on a penalty stroke early in the second half in a 3-1 Little East Conference loss at Fitchburg State University eight days ago.

The scoreless stretch coincides with the loss of top scorer Deisy Naranjo (Washington Heights, NY), who had recorded six goals in the first eight matches of the season before going down with an ankle injury (she is expected back on Saturday).

Maggie Schroeder scored 5:10 into regulation and assisted on a second half scored to lead the Camels to their sixth win without a loss over Eastern in this series.

Maggie Rakovic chipped in with a pair of second half scores and Shaelin Gottlick contributed with a score for Connecticut, which out-shot the Warriors18-5 and generated a 13-3 advantage in penalty corners.

Sophomore keeper Olivia Mullen (Bethel) finished with ten saves and also benefited from three defensive saves by freshman back Jessica Oliveira (Danbury) and one by freshman midfielder Mackenzie Brower (Granby) Brower's defensive stop kept the ball out of the cage momentarily before the Camels followed up immediately with their second goal of the first half.

Eastern returns to conference action Saturday at noon at Salem State University. Looking for their first conference tournament berth since 2004, the Warriors have lost by one goal in four of their last six setbacks to the Vikings.