Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – Scoring a team record 17 goals, Coast Guard won their season opener for the first time in program history with a 17-13 victory over non-conference foe Eastern Connecticut Saturday afternoon.
In their Bears (1-0) debut, Freshmen Brenna Farrington and Marietta Davis tied the program single game record for goals with five apiece. Freshman Luisa Santos also started her collegiate career on a high note recording a hat trick.
The Warriors (0-1) were led by sophomore Alyssa Powers who tallied a game high eight points on five goals and three assists. Junior Michelina Pinto had seven points on two goals and five assists while senior Maggie Bodington and sophomore Tristan Kijak each had two goals.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-1 lead five minutes into the game as junior Carter Sanderson and Davis each sandwiched goals around a Pinto tally for the Warriors.
Eastern then scored five of the next six goals capped off by a score from Bodington with 14:15 on the clock, making the score 6-3.
Coast Guard answered with four straight goals as Farrington and Davis each scored twice giving the Bears a 7-6 lead with 1:33 left to play in the opening period. The Warriors tied the game with 20 second left making the score 7-7 heading into the second half.
After the two teams traded goals in the first 10 minutes of the second, Coast Guard would take control of the game outscoring Eastern 8-4 over the final 19:10. Freshman Haley McCue scored the eventual game winner with 8:37 left in half giving the Bears their first winning record in program history.
In her collegiate debut, freshman Rebecca Dolan (1-0) made four saves on 17 shots on goal for her first win in a Coast Guard uniform.
Junior Jessica Purick (0-1) made a career high 14 saves in her first collegiate start.
Freshman Haley Howard made her presence felt immediately on the defensive end causing seven turnovers, collecting seven ground balls and winning a program record eight draws. Junior Leah Llewellyn was second on the team with four caused turnovers and three ground balls.
The Bears are back in action on Saturday, March 3rd, when they host St. Joseph's of Long Island in non-conference action. Opening draw is 1:00 pm.
