Photos

MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore back Maggie Bodington (Stratford) cleanup up a loose ball created on a 30-yard drive by junior midfielder Jamie Belden (Middlebury) with just under five minutes remaining in regulation as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team salvaged a 1-1 double-overtime draw with Albertus Magnus College in the 2015 opener for both teams Tuesday night at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

Eastern was unable to finish numerous chances before Bodington knocked a loose ball uncontested across the goal line after Albertus senior keeper Maria Case (West Haven) was unable to corral Belden's drove which originated in front of the home bench. Case made a remarkable effort to get her hands on the ball as she reached backward, hoping to tip it over the crossbar. However, it fell to the ground just short of the goal line, but Bodington was there to finish it off. Bodington had returned to the game just a minute before the tying goal after sitting out most of the second part of the second half.

The assist was the fourth in the career of Belden, who missed nine matches last year due to injury. The goal was the second in the career of Bodington, a first-team All-Little East Conference defender in 2014.

The teams were playing for only the second time in their program's history, with both extending into overtime (Eastern won, 2-1 a year ago in New Haven).

Until Bodington's goal, it appeared that  sophomore forward Victoria Lavery's (West Haven) goal with 14 minutes left in the first half – her team's first shot --would stand up. The Falcons capitalized on an Eastern turnover as the Warriors were attempting to clear their zone. Eastern's misdirected pass landed on the foot of junior back Alexis Mack (Meriden), who crossed a pass toward the top of the box to Lavery whose drive landed in the upper right-handed corner of the net.

Trailing at halftime, Eastern unloaded nine shots in the second half but could not put any by Case. Junior midfielder Hailey Lehning (Woodbury) took five of Eastern's 19 shots in the game, forcing Case to make a sprawling save on her shot from the right side 15 minutes into the second half. Junior midfielder Danielle Polvan (East Haven) accounted for half of her team's eight shots. Polvan nearly gave her team a 2-0 edge with six minutes let but her drive from the middle of the box was right at Eastern senior keeper Rachel Skelton (East Lyme).

Case finished with seven saves, Skelton six.

Eastern visits Johnson & Wales University Friday at 6 p.m.