WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Junior Victoria Matthews and senior Isabel Clements scored 11 minutes apart early in the first half as the Wesleyan University women's soccer team won its third match in its last four tries with a 4-2 non-conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.

Wesleyan (4-2-0) – whose only win a year ago came against Eastern -- never trailed, and after sophomore back Maggie Bodington's (Stratford) goal on a free kick in the opening minutes of the first half cut the Wesleyan lead in half, the Cardinals answered with two more in a span of four minutes to move out to a 4-1 lead with 18 minutes left.

Eastern trailed 3-1 before Wesleyan applied the finishing touch when freshman Liz Young picked the pocket of an Eastern defender and scored from in close to make it a three-goal game. Trailing 4-1, the Warriors' inability to convert a breakaway attempt came back to haunt them moments later when after sophomore Nikki Basilicato's  (Guilford) scored her first goal of the year in her second appearance. The ball popped out to Basilicato stationed to the left of the cage, who one-timed a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner, making it 4-2.

Eastern used high pressure in an effort to score first two minutes into action, when first-year sophomore Anna Manser (Manchester) won the ball in the defensive third but sent a hard drive right at the keeper. Ten minutes later, Matthews received a through-ball from senior Madeline Keane and one-timed a finisher that quickly sent Wesleyan ahead – a lead it would not relinquish.

Freshman Olivia Gorman made one save over the first 62 minutes in gaining her first career win in net in her first career start.  Eastern senior Rachel Skelton (East Lyme) made three saves and allowed all four goals before departing with 15 minutes left.

Wesleyan is 3-0-1 against Eastern in the last four meetings, defeating the Warriors on their home field for the first time since 1995 (Eastern had been 1-0-2 against the Cards at home since losing 3-0 at home in 1995).

Saturday, Eastern  visits Western Connecticut State University in a  Little East Conference match at 5 p.m.