WEST HAVEN, Conn. - With a pair of scores from freshman Rachel Dempsey (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) and a shutout performance by Deandra Nash (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park), the University of New Haven women's soccer team earned a 2-0 victory over Bentley Saturday evening at Kayo Field. Nash registered four saves in her first career start and earned the shutout between the posts for the Chargers.

New Haven improve to 3-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 2-4 on the year and 0-3 in conference play.

Dempsey's first collegiate goals in the 53rd and 64th minutes propelled the Chargers to the win. Marisa Garcia (Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) led the Blue and Golf in shots with four on the night, while four others posted a pair each.

In what proved to be a defensive battle early, both teams' goalkeepers were tested quickly. Garcia and senior Amber Simms (Southport, England/Southport) got in on the action early, forcing Bentley goalkeeper Deirdre Macrorie to make a pair of saves in the early going. The Falcons countered with a pair of shots from Jamie Grinavic in the 18th and 31st minutes. Sierri Stein wanted a piece of the action, but was denied by Macrorie with less than five minutes in the half. The match was all knotted at 0-0 as the halftime whistle blew.
 
Looking to strike early in the second half, the Blue and Gold came charging forward which led to a Simms corner kick in the 49th minute. Seconds later, Garcia rung one off the post, nearly putting New Haven ahead. Continuing the strike, Kelly Blank (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor / Farmingdale State College) found Dempsey on a through pass in the 53rd minute for her first goal of the game, and her career. Looking to add an insurance goal to the board, freshman Kelly Quigley (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury Memorial) came inches from giving the Chargers a 2-0 advantage when a shot from inside the 18-yard box ricocheted off the post. Rachel Dempsey's success continued when she buried her second goal of the game at the 64th minute. Bentley, still looking to break the shutout, came at the Chargers with a late surge. Shots came from Ana Tatum and Patty McAllister, but were denied by Nash, preserving her first career shutout and the 2-0 victory for UNH.
 
McAllister led the Falcons with six shots on the night and goalkeeper Deirdre Macorie made six saves.
 
The Blue and Gold are back in action Tuesday, Sept. 23 in Syracuse, N.Y. where they take on Le Moyne at 3 p.m. Then two more road games for the Chargers who won't see the confines of Kayo Field again until Saturday, Oct. 4.