BOX SCORE BOX SCORE

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven women's soccer team sufferred a 1-0 defeat at nationally ranked No. 25 Southern Connecticut State University Tuesday night. The Owls scored the game's only goal after 72-scoreless minutes. The Chargers fell to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the loss, while SCSU improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play.

The Chargers and Owls played a back-and-forth first half as both teams exchanged scoring opportunities. New Haven was first to strike as Shannon Morales (Bloomfield, Conn./Northwest Catholic) recorded a shot on goal in the sixth minute. UNH would maintain the momentum in the first third of the opening half as Brenna Weidman (Holliston, Mass./Holliston / Utica College) recorded quite possibly the Chargers best scoring opportunity in the game. The senior attempted a free kick from approximatelty 25-yards out and the ball sailed over a SCSU wall to find the cross bar of the Owls goal. Southern Connecticut State then attempted the final six shots of the first half. Four sailed wide, while UNH goalkeeper Kim Taylor (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) made two first-half saves to keep the score tied at 0-0.

Both teams had excellent scoring opportunities in the second half as well. The Owls began the half by gaining momentum and controlled possession for most of the first 15 minutes. Taylor made two big saves in the 58th and 59th minutes, while the Chargers broke the momentum and regained possession in the 63rd minute. Morales fired back-to-back shots which went wide in the 63rd and 64th minutes. The Chargers then recorded two corner kick opportunities which both made their way into the eight-yard box, but could not find a UNH foot. In the 69th and 70th minutes, the Owls tallied back-to-back opportunities as well, but Taylor once again kept the shoutout alive with two big saves between the posts. Southern's tie-breaking goal came in the 73rd minute when Suzane Pires attempted a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. She fired a shot on frame which was saved by Taylor, but Lisamarie Tarchini found the rebound and put away the only goal of the game. In the closing minutes, the Chargers recorded three shots, but few scoring opportunities.

Lucy Francisco (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence ) led the team with four shots, including three shots on goal. Morales added three shots, while Weidman tallied one. Taylor posted a season-high nine saves between the posts. As a team, UNH was out-shot 18-8, but held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Tuesday's win was No. 25 Southern Connecticut State's seventh straight shutout to open the 2011 season.

New Haven will return to action on Saturday, September 24 when they host Saint Anselm College at Kayo Field. Opening kick off is set for 1 p.m. Live video and statistics will be available for the game with links posted on www.NewHavenChargers.com.