MANSFIELD, Conn. – Castleton University sophomore midfielder Alexis Billings scored the tying goal with under ten minutes left that lifted the Castleton University women's soccer team into a 1-1 Little East Conference tie with Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon at Rick McCarthy Field.
 
Junior forward Mackenzie Teper (Lisbon) came off the bench to score her first career goal on her second career shot with four minutes left in the first half that boosted Eastern (4-4-3, 2-2-1 LEC) into the lead before Billings' fourth goal of the year with 8:42 left the match in a tie for the second straight season. Billings connected on a header off a serve from sophomore forward Rylee Pepin on the only goal allowed by junior keeper Emily Wallace (Smithtown, NY), who made four saves in her first start in over two weeks. Wallace has lost only once (3-1-3) in seven decisions this year.
 
Eastern's best scoring chance in a dominant second half (11-3 advantage in shots) would likely have given the Warriors the win with under two minutes left, but the uncontested shot sailed wide. Teper converted one of only two first-half shots by Eastern, with sophomore midfielder Dani Rovalino (Simsbury) credited with her sixth assist in two years with a perfectly-placed pass this set up Teper's go-ahead goal. On the scoring player, Rovalino won the ball near midfield and carried down the right sideline. She beat a defender and headed into the box, where she centered a low, hard pass that Teper got her foot on and sent the ball from close range past a sprawling senior keeper Alex Benfatti.
 
Benfatti made seven saves for Fitchburg, six in the second half.
 
The tie ended a three-match losing streak for Castleton (3-9-1, 1-2-1 LEC), which had dropped its previous six matches away from home this year.
 
Eastern visits Rhode Island College Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Little East Conference match.