PURCHASE, N.Y. – Ranked No. 8 in New England, the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team recorded its third straight season-opening shutout with a 1-0 victory over Farmingdale State College in the first game of the Valiant Classic, hosted by Manhattanville College Friday afternoon at Go Valiants.com Field.

Eastern (3-0) connected on one of its five shots in the match, with senior midfielder senior Nicole Leonard (Rutherford, NJ) scoring her first goal of the season midway through the first half. Junior keeper Rachel Skelton (East Lyme) posted her second shutout in as many stars this year. She was called upon for only two saves by the Warriors, who got stellar play from its defense for the third straight match.

The first great chance of the game came off the foot of Eastern Connecticut junior forward Whitney Mantel (Stamford) in the 12th minute. The Warriors' leading scorer had a 1v1 opportunity with Farmingdale State sophomore keeper Breanna Blair, but her shot from the right side of the box was stopped by Blair and her defense was able to clear out the rebound.

Ten minutes later, Leonard connected for her first goal of the year on her second shot.  Sophomore back Maggie Sayers (Windsor Locks) served the ball into the box for Mantel, and she re-directed the ball to Leonard for the put-away.

The meeting was the first ever between Eastern and Farmingdale, which won last year's Skyline Conference, then lost to No. 9 Williams College in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

In three matches this season, the Warriors have allowed opponents to put only eight of their shots on net. In addition to Skelton's two shutouts, freshman Chelsea Santos (Windsor Locks) was called upon for only one save in recording a shutout in her first collegiate start last Saturday in a 4-0 shutout of  Fitchburg State University on the second day of the Warrior Classic.

Eastern faces Buffalo State College Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on the second day of the Valiant Classic.