Box Score
MANSFIELD, Conn. --  The Eastern Connecticut State University women's soccer team was able to break one long futility streak in Tuesday afternoon's non-conference match against Connecticut College at Rick McCarthy, but, ultimately, couldn't put an end to a second.

After ending a streak of 582 scoreless minutes (6-plus matches) against Conn (4-3-0) by taking a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into play, the Warriors (2-6-0) let that one-goal lead slip away over the final 28 minutes when the Camels struck twice in the second half for a 2-1 victory that extended their winning streak over the Warriors to seven straight dating back to a 2-1 overtime victory in New London in 2016.

It marks Eastern's fourth one-goal loss this season and third straight loss and drops the Warriors to 1-4-0 at home. Conn ended a two-game losing streak with its first road victory in four starts. Three of the Camels' losses this year have come against regionally-ranked teams, including a 2-1 setback in the first week of the season at Amherst College, ranked first in Region I and second national.

Tuesday, Eastern put six consecutive shutout losses to Conn behind it early when senior Hailey Cocca (Stratford) connected for her second goal of the season with just five minutes gone in the first half on the first assist of the year from senior Morgan Kelly (Florida, NY). 

Eastern controlled much of the first half but couldn't expand its lead despite creating a number of opportunities for itself. Looking for her first collegiate win in her second career start, first-year keeper Alex Iganatowicz (Coventry) stopped all four of the shots that she faced in the first half and left the game at halftime with her team nursing a one-goal lead.

Conn gained its rhythm in the second half but was turned away early on excellent saves by keeper Kaeden Dublin (Maple Grove, MN) – the second coming when the second-year keeper left her feet to time perfectly a drive by Conn first-year defender Lucy Parker that tipped off Dublin's outstretched hands and then off the crossbar and was cleared by the Eastern defense.

A minute after Dublin's standout save, however, Conn gained the equalizer when sophomore forward Zola Alcaro knocked in junior defender Alexa Weiner's corner kick for her first goal of the season with 28 minutes left.

The game appeared headed for only the third tie in the 38-game series (first since 1996) before sophomore Ella Natal gave the Camels their 24^th victory in the series when she one-timed a shot from  eight yards out with 7:34 left that was straight at Dublin but which carried over her head into the netting for her first goal of the season.

The winning play originated on a Conn throw-in in front of the Eastern bench into the team's defensive third. A long serve carried down the right side line in front the Camel bench, where sophomore forward Katelyn Hardwick kept it in-bounds and sent it ahead to a streaking first-year forward Mae Mastrullo. Mastrullo shrugged off a fallen defender and carried all the way to the end line before sending a ground ball through the box to an unmarked Natal directly in front of Dublin, with Natale connecting for the game-winner on her only shot of the match.

Senior goalie Ella Kahrl made five saves, shutting out the Warriors over the final 85-plus minutes after allowing the early goal. Conn held a slim 12-10 edge in shots by a whipping 13-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Eastern hosts Keene State College Saturday in a Little East Conference match. Both teams are coming off opening conference losses Saturday. The Warriors dropped a 3-2 home decision to two-time defending playoff champion University of Southern Maine while Keene (3-4-1) extended its winless streak to five (0-4-1) after winning its first three with a 3-0 road loss to Western Connecticut.