Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – On a rainy and windy night the Bears continued on their best start in school history pushing their record to 6-3-1 on the season beating Salve Regina 1-0 on an own goal.
Coast Guard had two significant chances in the opening half. The first came off a corner kick when sophomore Alyssa Sato sent a corner into the Seahawks penalty area. The ball bounced around the box and Salve Regina was unable to clear it out. The ball came to junior Hanna Jansson who fired a hard low shot on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Emily Cuellar made a diving save to her right to thwart the Bear's attack.
A few moments later Jannson played the ball to sophomore Brianna Grisell down the right flank. Grisell received the ball in space and dribbled to the touch line where she served a cross into the box. Cuellar came off her line to corral the ball before a shot could be put on goal.
The first half was mostly played in the midfield as each team held the other to minimal shots. The Bears outshot the Seahawks by a slim margin 5-4.
Coast Guard came out strong in the second half and were on the attack mid way through the period when junior Sarah Hills sent a shot on goal from just outside the eighteen yard box. Cuellar knocked the ball down and made a sprawling save to gobble up the ball before senior Julia Mundy could get her foot on the rebound.
The Bears finally got on the scoreboard when Hills sent a low cross in the box looking for senior Liz Runci. Junior Jessica Broadhurst made it to the ball first but as she went to clear the ball she fired it into the back of her own goal 65:38 into the game.
Coach Susan Grant was happy with the teams composure in the win saying, "it took us some time to settle into the wet and windy conditions, but once we did, we were able to combine well and possess (the ball) the way we should."
Senior Holly Moore made a key save toward the end of the second half. Freshman Francesca Galeazzi received a pass in space and found herself on a break-away. Moore came sprinting off her line and slid, knocking the ball away from Galeazzi and keeping Coast Guard in the lead.
On her record setting night Moore made nine saves for her sixth win of the year and her NEWMAC conference leading sixth shutout of the year. This shutout moves Moore in to first in Coast Guard women's record book for shutouts in a single season.
"Our defense was very strong and composed, contributing to the sixth shutout of the season moving Holly into first place in the record books for shutouts in a single season. We are all so thrilled for Holly and this great accomplishment, which she has worked so hard to achieve," commented Coach Grant.
With this win tonight, Coast Guard continues on their best start in school history. They matched their win total for the entire season last year (6-11-2).
Cuellar made seven saves to drop her record to 1-3-0 on the season and the team's record to 3-6-0.
Coast Guard returns to action this Saturday, October 4th when they host the Smith Pioneers, part of a doubleheader with the Men's soccer team. Game time is 1:00 pm.
