NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The US Coast Guard Academy Women's Soccer team picked up a critical conference win over Mount Holyoke on Wednesday evening. The Bears used a late goal by junior Karagan Bulger to pull ahead and hold on to the 1-0 victory. 

After 75 minutes of scoreless play, Bulger sank her fifth shot of the night past Mount Holyoke goalkeeper Clarissa Govea on an unassisted strike. That would prove to be the night. In total, Coast Guard amassed sixteen shots, with ten being on target. Govea had an impressive evening, up until the late night slip up. That break was all the Bears needed. 

On the other side of the ball, the Bears mounted a lock-down defensive effort, easing the burden on Emily Scharnitzky between the pipes. The Bears defense only allowed one shot for the entire game. In part of that success defensively, Coach Grant was able to use a short bench tonight as the chemistry on the field built and the players played off one another. 

Other stand-outs for the Bears this evening were Riley Vicinanzo, who rattled off four shots on net, and Renae Sanchez, who also put a ball on frame. 

Head Coach Susan Grant understand the impact of tonight's result on the conference play-off push. The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Women's tournament will sponsor seven schools. The Bears did their part to stay in the conversation with their three points tonight. Grant had this to say: 

"The win tonight was crucial to keep our NEWMAC tournament chances alive, and we are happy to be able to get the win and the three points. We now need to turn our focus and energy to our match vs WPI Saturday." 

And refocus they will. The Bears play their regular season finale on Saturday, October 29th, 2022 at 3pm EST on Nitchman Field against the Engineers of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This game will be pivotal in the NEWMAC play-off picture.