WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to the Southern New Hampshire Penmen in the opening game of a two-game homestand on Wednesday night at Kathy Zolad Stadium.
After a scoreless opening half which included just four shots total, Southern New Hampshire placed the only notch on the board less than eight minutes into the second half. Sophomore defender Reanna Romano net her first goal of the season on a shot that came from beyond 40 yards outs.
A quiet first half for both teams saw a total of just four shots, all of which came from the Penmen. New Haven looked to make a run with 10 minutes remaining before the intermission when a through ball was served by freshman Danielle DesRuisseaux (Amherst, N.H./Bishop Brady) with senior Emily Morello (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) on the chase. Just moments before Morello reached the ball in trickled over the end line to end the threat. Of the four shots from the Penmen, sophomore keeper Paige Davis (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Coughlin) registered just one save.
SNHU broke the scoreless draw in the 53rd minute when Romano floated a shot from well outside the 18 yard box. Her deep blast carried just over the outstretched arms of Davis and creeped just under the crossbar for Romano's first goal of the season.
Nearly three minutes after the Penmen's initial goal, senior Annie White (West Nyack, N.Y./Pearl River) recorded the Blue and Gold's first shot attempt of the night when she put a boot on a ball from 30 yards out but sailed it over the top of the crossbar.
Just prior to the 69th minute, New Haven threatened to even the score when Morello played a through ball to a charging Samantha Roth (Hicksville, N.Y./St. Anthony's). As Roth looked to play the ball at the corner of the box, the Penmen's keeper Hannah Rose, who came out to play the ball, executed a great slide tackle, booting the ball over the sideline for a throw in.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest Tana Tufts (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) recorded the best scoring opportunity thus far for New Haven. Off a cross just off the end line from Grace Scorcia (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining), Tufts put a head to the ball but was unsuccessful in redirecting it, instead having the ball sneak just outside the right side upright.
Just Two minutes later Roth was able to tally her first shot of the night, but blasted an open look from the left of the cage high over the crossbar. Davis did her part in keeping New Haven within striking distance when she collected her second save with seven minutes remaining off a long blast from Allyson Patterson. Davis would do it again on a shot inside the 18-yard box by Sydney Carney that she punched over the end line. On the ensuing corner kick, Davis would fall on the last shot she would face from the Penmen for her fourth and final save of the night.
The Chargers will continue their homestand on Saturday when they return to Kathy Zolad Stadium for another game under the lights. New Haven will host the Saint Rose Golden Knights in their second straight home game with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m.
