NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College field hockey team gave No. 19 Hamilton College all it could handle on Saturday morning, falling by a 2-1 final in NESCAC action at Silfen Field.

The Camels trailed by two before a goal by Sydney Cresta (Swampscott, Mass.) tightened the game with less than 12 minutes remaining. 

Hamilton (5-3 overall, 2-3 NESCAC) got goals from Delaney Grace (Halifax, Mass.) and Tracey Stafford (Ridgefield, Conn.) to build the initial margin. Abby Griffin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made four saves in goal to preserve the victory.

The game's first goal came with 4:56 remaining in the first half off a Hamilton short corner. After the insertion, the ball ended up on the right side for a shot that was stopped by goalie Sophie Moniz (Alexandria, Va.). However, Grace pounced on the rebound and was able to poke it over the goal line amidst a scrum of players.  

Conn produced a pair of scoring chances in the final two minutes of the half, but both were denied by Griffin. The first came off the stick of Elektra Rodger (Greenwich, Conn.) on the right end line, and moments later Bridget McGann (West Hartford, Conn.) took a hard swing from inside of 10 yards that was turned away.

Hamilton, which led 1-0 at intermission, came out firing to start the second half. Moniz recorded a pair of saves in the opening 1:31 of the period, but the Continentals finally broke through for their second goal shortly thereafter. Grace Chapis (Brookside, N.J.) set up the play with a backhanded sweep to Stafford, who chipped her shot off Moniz's left pad and into the back of the cage.

Conn kept fighting hard and earned four penalty corners in the third quarter, including three consecutive midway through the period. The final one produced the Camel's best scoring chance to that point, with four passes leading to a shot by McGann that nearly got over the goal line.  

Conn finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth, converting on a short corner attempt with 11:38 remaining. Despite a poor insertion, the Camels put a ball in the circle that was deflected by a defender. Cresta was there to knock in the loose ball for her first goal of the season. 

The Camels had chances to tie the game late. With 4:50 to go, Kylee Quinn (Sandwich, Mass.) ripped a shot off a short corner that went just wide. Minutes later, Cresta made a nice run up the middle of the field and dished to a streaking McGann, who was funneled to the end line by a defender before getting off a shot.

Time eventually ran out on the Camels, who fell to 2-6 overall (0-4 NESCAC). Moniz finished with five saves in the contest.  

Conn College will next play at Amherst College on Tuesday, October 4 at 6 p.m.