Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. - Coast Guard battled hard but could not hold back Conn. College's powerful offense in a 4-0 loss Wednesday night.
The Camels, the fifth ranked team in New England according to NSCAA poll, came into the game scoring twenty-one goals through five game.
The Bears battled hard through the first half holding the camels scoreless for the majority of the period but went into the half down one goal.
Senior Holly Moore made two great saves in the half. The first coming with under thirteen minutes when a Conn. College cross trickled through the box and found its way to freshman Livi Block's feet. Block took a hard shot at goal but Moore was there to hold the shot and kill the Camel's attack.
Shortly after that play Block had the ball at her feet again and sent a dangerous cross into the box. Moore came off her line to make a diving save on the cross before the ball could reach any of the Conn. College attackers.
The Camels did break through right before intermission when Block sent another cross into the penalty box. Moore came off her line once again to make the save but could not hold the ball. Freshman Caroline Kelleher was there to collect Moore's save and one touch the ball into the back of the net. The goal was Kelleher's second of the season and her collegiate career.
The Bears continued to hold back the Camel's offense in the second half until the 73rd minute when senior Astrid Kempainen's pass found freshman Nicole Medina at the center of the eighteen yard box. Medina took a touch and hit a hard shot past Moore for Medina's second goal of the year.
The next goal for Conn. College came on a penalty kick when a Camel attacker was taken down inside the Coast Guard penalty box. Kempainen finished in the bottom right corner from the penalty spot for her fourth goal of the year.
Conn. College's final goal came with just under six minutes left in the half when freshman Alexa Tribelli took a pass from senior Grace Bilodeau and hit a looping shot from the right side of the field. Her shot carried over Moore's head to the opposite corner for Tribelli's fourth goal of the season.
The Camels outshot the Bears 15-5 with a 7-1 edge in shots on goals.
Senior Holly Moore made 3 saves in the loss dropping the Bears record to 4-3-1 on the season.
Sophomore Bryanna Montalvo had 1 save for the Camels pushing their record to 6-0-0 on the season.
Coach Susan Grant was disappointed with the loss but happy with her team's effort saying, "We came out strong in the first half which is something we discussed this week after our slow start against Springfield. I was happy with our consistent effort from the start of the game and to only hold them to one goal through the first half and a portion of the second half shows a great defensive effort. Their speed and deep bench caught up with us towards the end of the game and that is when they were able to put away three late goals."
"Playing two of the top teams in New England in a row has prepared us well for our upcoming conference schedule," commented Coach Grant. "I am looking for us to have a strong start on Friday against Clark. It is a night game and we need to come off the bus ready to play from the kickoff. It should be a great game and I believe we will be ready to go.
Coast Guard returns to action on Friday, September 26th when they travel to Worcester, Mass. for a NEWMAC Conference game against Clark University. Kickoff is 6:00 pm.
