WATERVILLE, Maine – The Connecticut College field hockey team suffered its second one-goal setback of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-2 to Colby College in NESCAC action at Bill Alfond Field.
Serena Moore (Houston, Texas) and Sadie Gearan (Lynnfield, Mass.) scored goals for the Camels, but a late push by the visitors in the final minutes failed to generate the equalizer. Colby potted a goal in each of the first three quarters and held on to pick up their first league win of the year (3-2 overall).
Conn fell behind 1-0 as Colby's Hadley Swenson scored exactly one minute into the contest. The Camels issued a response just 2:35 later, cashing in on the second of consecutive penalty corners. Gearan rifled a shot to the cage that Moore flipped up and over goalie Ginna Jacoby, tying the game with her first tally of the season.
The Mules went back on top midway through the second quarter on a goal by Abby Morrill. Conn put pressure on Colby in the final two minutes of the half, drawing a pair of penalty corners and forcing Jacoby into making two saves to protect the 2-1 margin.
Ruth Collins gave the hosts some breathing room with a goal 10 minutes into the second half, finishing off a sequence of precise passing with a redirect at the left post. The Mules carried the 3-1 lead into the final stanza, only to see the Camels cut the deficit back to one with 7:39 to go. Elizabeth Bonner (Westfield, N.J.) set up the goal with a pass from midfield to the top of the circle, and Gearan turned and ripped a shot from the point for her second tally in as many days.
Conn spent the final minutes hunting the game-tying goal, and produced its best chance with just under two minutes to play. Megan Pons (Charlotte, N.C.) used a quick restart to center a pass to the front of the cage, but the Camels were unable to get a stick on the ball for a shot.
Colby finished with a 14-9 advantage in shots and an 8-6 edge in penalty corners. Conn goalie Isabella Carnall (Malvern, Pa.) played all 60 minutes and recorded five saves in the loss.
Conn (1-4 overall, 0-4 NESCAC) will next host Hamilton College on Saturday, September 26 at 11:30 a.m.
