PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Connecticut College women's soccer team hit the road for a non-conference matchup, falling to host Johnson and Wales 2-1 on Wednesday night from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.
JWU started on the front foot, recording the first two shots on target of the evening, but Saylor Redfearn (Middletown, R.I.) stopped both efforts inside the opening nine minutes. Conn responded with their first shot of the contest at 10:42, but Lucy Hurlbut (Westport, Conn.) was stopped by Ava Vaughan.
The teams traded possession, before the Wildcats opened the scoring at 23:23. JWU earned a free-kick on the top of the box, as Ava Scotti put a shot around the wall that bounced just in front of the cage and in, to make it 1-0.
The Camels answered with some pressure, and found the equalizer with just over 13 minutes left in the half. Conn forced a turnover at midfield, as Danica Zicha (Belmont, Mass.) was off to the races, firing low to the far post and beating Vaughan to make it 1-1.
The game looked like it was going to be all square at the break, but the Wildcats capitalized on a broken play with three and a half minutes left. A loose ball fell right to the feet of Sofia Soares outside of the box, who fired into the upper corner to put JWU in front 2-1 at the half.
The teams traded chances over the first 15 minutes, with both Redfearn and Vaughan making one save, before Conn took control looking to tie the game. Piper Rotherman (Westport, Conn.) came close to tying the game with just under 14 minutes remaining, but her effort hit the top of the crossbar and bounced off for a goal kick.
The Camels continued to push for the tying goal as Claire Chace (Bristol, R.I.) was stopped twice, with just over five minutes remaining and just under three minutes remaining. Conn kept on the attack and nearly tied with a minute and half remaining, as a Camel corner kick fell to Chace whose effort went just wide of the post. Time ran out on Conn from there, as the Camels fell 2-1.
Conn outshot JWU 19-8 overall, with both teams putting five shots on target, while Conn held an 8-3 edge on corner kicks.
Redfearn made her first career start in goal, finishing with three saves. Zicha tallied the lone goal for Conn, while Chace led the way with two shots on target.
Vaughan picked up the win in goal, recording four saves. Scotti and Soares paced JWU with one goal each.
Conn (3-4-1, 1-3-1 NESCAC) wraps up the quick two game road trip, as the Camels travel to Williamstown, Mass. to take on No.18 Williams at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
