Late goal leads Conn. College past women's soccer

The Hamilton College women’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to visiting Connecticut College in NESCAC play on Saturday at Love Field. The Continentals (3-2-0, 1-2-0) held the undefeated Camels, who came into the game averaging five goals per game, scoreless for nearly 78 minutes before the visitors scored the game’s only goal.

Box score

Conn. College (5-0-0, 2-0) owned a 20-7 advantage in shots and Hamilton’s Rachel Cooley ’18 made a career-high 10 saves to help keep the contest scoreless. The Camels finally got on the scoreboard on a goal by Grace Bilodeau ’15 that was set up by Michelle Medina ’18 with 12:44 left in regulation. Medina sent a pass from the right side in front to Bilodeau, who dribbled right to evade a defender then shot back to her left into the net for her second goal of the season.

The Camels, who allowed just two shots on goal, were able to keep the Continentals from any threatening possessions over the remainder of the game.

The visitors had numerous scoring opportunities in the first period, including a pair of chances by Annie Higgins ’17. Midway through the opening period, Higgins got behind Cooley who had come out toward the end line. She crossed the ball to the front of the net where it bounced toward the Continental goal before Cooley scrambled back to tip it along the line and Halle Becker ’15 knocked it away. In the 40th minute a slide tackle by Bea Blackwell ’17 disrupted a run by Higgins, who recovered to put a high shot inside the near post that Cooley saved. Two minutes later Nicole Medina ’18 put a shot past a diving Cooley that struck the left post.

Hamilton’s best chance at a first-half goal came just six minutes in when Becker sent a tight shot from outside the left post off the hands of Conn. College goalkeeper Bryanna Montalvo ’17, but Montalvo (two saves) was able to control the loose ball before the Continentals could capitalize.

Following the scoreless first half (the third in a row the Continentals have played in), Hamilton had a chance to take the lead on a shot by Amanda Becker ’18. Montalvo came out to challenge Becker, who was able to get off a shot but Cathy Higgins ’17 blocked the ball.

Two minutes later Annie Higgins missed a point-blank shot when an unsettled ball landed at her feet. With the Camels looking to extend their lead, Blackwell made another key defensive play for Hamilton, knocking away a ball headed for the left post.

Hamilton plays a 4 p.m. game at Oswego on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and Conn. College travels to Coast Guard on Wednesday.