NEW LONDON, Conn. – Anna Carleton's penalty kick in the 51st minute ended up being the game winning goal leading Coast Guard to its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) win a 2-1 victory over Smith.

Coast Guard snaps an eight game slide to improve to 3-9 overall and 1-5 in the NEWMAC while Smith is now 4-4-4 overall and 1-2-2 in conference action.

There were plenty of fireworks in the first six minutes of the second half after the teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half.

Chase Merrick buried a shot in the upper right corner from about 30 yards out, her team leading fifth goal of the season, for Coast Guard just 44 seconds into the second half to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

It took Smith just over a minute to tie the game, as Parker Ellis took advantage of a loose ball and found the back of the net just 1:53 into the second half for her team leading fifth goal of the season.

Less than four minutes later, Brielle Pearce was tackled in the box and Carleton found the lower left corner of the goal to give Coast Guard the 2-1 lead.

The Bears dominated play in the first half outshooting Smith 13-1, but the game was scoreless. Coast Guard held a 21-6 edge in shots in the game.

Freshman Emily Scharnitzky played the second half in goal and picked up her first career win as she made three saves. Sarah Schollenberger did not need to make a save in the first half.

Naomi Falkenberg (4-4-2) had four saves in goal for Smith.

Coast Guard is back in action on Saturday when the Bears host Wheaton in a NEWMAC game at 1:00.