MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's soccer team gave top-seeded and No. 4 Wesleyan University all they could handle, falling to the host Cardinals 1-0 in double overtime on Saturday afternoon from Jackson Field. With the loss Conn ends the year at 5-9-2, while Wesleyan improves to 13-0-3 and will continue in the NESCAC tournament next weekend.
It was a slow start for both teams, with just one shot attempt in the opening 10 minutes. Kerenza Leahey recorded that first effort for Wesleyan, but the shot went wide. Conn answered with the first shot on target at 11:13, as Clare Mulvihill (West Caldwell, N.J.), forcing a save from Molly Brumbach.
Two minutes later, Wesleyan responded with their first chance on goal, but Ella Kahrl (Wellesley, Mass.) made a strong save diving to her right. The Cardinals forced three more saves from Kahrl, before Blessing Kieh (Monrovia, Liberia) fired a shot on target with just under 10 minutes left in the half, but the effort was turned aside. Neither side connected over the final minutes, as the game was scoreless at the break.
Wesleyan attempted three shots in the opening 15 minutes, with one on target, but again Kahrl came up with the save. Conn responded four minutes later, with a good chance to open the scoring, but Caroline Camp (New London, N.H.) was turned aside.
The Cardinals upped the pressure in the final 20 minutes of regulation, looking to find the winner. Wesleyan put three more shots on target in the span of six minutes, but Kahlr again was up to the task, including a diving save with the ball headed to the corner of the net. Conn had the last chance in regulation, as the Camels earned a corner kick with just over a minute left, but were unable to convert, as the game headed to overtime scoreless.
The first overtime period was slow going, with just one total shot in the frame. The lone effort came from the Camels, but Mulvihill's shot went wide, as the game remained scoreless into the second overtime. With time running down in the second extra time session, Wesleyan found the game winner with just over three minutes left, as Katie O'Connell played in Juliette Sullivan who beat Kahrl, to advance the Cardinals, 1-0.
Wesleyan outshot Conn 21-5 overall, including 12-4 on shots on target, holding a 9-4 advantage on corner kicks.
Kahrl was fantastic in goal, holding the top-seeded Cardinals in check for most of the afternoon, recording 11 saves. Four Camels recorded one shot on target, with Camp, Kieh, Mastrullo, and Mulvihill all putting one on net.
Brumbach got the win in net, making four saves. Sullivan tallied the lone marker, with O'Connell picking up the assist.
Conn's season comes to an end with the Camels fifth-straight appearance in the conference tournament.
