Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn.— The chances of a one-goal match are nearly guaranteed when the Eastern Connecticut State University and Connecticut College women's soccer teams meet. And the 28th meeting between the programs since 1987 didn't disappoint.
For the tenth time in the last 11 confrontations, the winning team was determined by one goal. This time, Conn College scored a goal in each half to hold off Eastern, 2-1, on Tempel Green.
In one-goal decisions since 2003, the Warriors maintain a 6-4 edge.
Conn (7-1-0) is ranked sixth in New England. The Warriors (5-4-1) have dropped three of their last four, with all of their losses this season coming by one goal.
Caroline Kelleher and Morgan Cowie Haskell supplied scores for the Camels. Senior Taylor Shannon (Waterford) accounted for the Warrior score with 15 minutes left, cutting the hosts' lead in half.
Bryanna Montalvo made one save for the Camels while junior Rachel Skelton (East Lyme) stopped nine shots in a strong showing for the visitors.
The Camels nearly got on the board in the 15th minute of play. Annie Higgins was able to lead Nicole Medina toward the goal with a nice feed. Medina unloaded from the 18 yard line with a high rising blast but Skelton was able to dive to her left to knock the ball out of play with an acrobatic save.
But in the 19th minute the Camels got on the board with some terrific ball movement. Michelle Medina controlled the ball and dished it off to Annie Higgins on the right side of the six yard line. Higgins cycled the ball through the box to Kelleher at the far post and she one-timed it into the back of the net.
Skelton made seven saves in the opening half to keep the visitors within a single score at the break.
But in the 56th minute, the Camels cashed in on a set piece. Sophomore Amanda Proulx belted a rising corner kick from the right side and Cowie-Haskell redirected the ball with a nifty-looking header to make it a 2-0 game.
The Camels appeared to be on their way to the win. But Shannon changed the complexion of the game when she stepped into a passing lane to intercept a goal kick from Montalvo. In a 1-on-1 situation, Shannon unloaded with a high arching shot that found the back of the net and suddenly the Warriors were within one with 15 minutes remaining in regulation.
Connecticut College nearly scored its third goal in the 86th minute of play. Medina unloaded with a blast from the 18 yard line but Skelton was able to make another diving save to punch the ball out of play and keep her team close.
However, the Camel defense clamped down on the Warriors in the closing moments and the hosts were able to hold on for the 2-1 victory.
Eastern visits Massachusetts Boston Saturday at 1 p.m. in a Little East Conference match. The fifth-seeded Warriors upset No. 1 seed UMass in last year's LEC semifinals in Boston.
