New Haven, C.T- Entering this week the Chargers remained in the ninth spot in Northeast-10 Conference play, as they headed down the street to take on rival Southern Connecticut, who is standing fifth in conference standings. The Chargers have upkeep a four-year win streak against the Owls, but for the first time in four straight games, New Haven would fall 4-3.

A rivalry game always brings out the energy, and that was shown by both teams right off the bat. A back-and-forth game, with each team gathering multiple offensives opportunities for a highly contested first quarter. New Haven's backfield pushed back against the quick restarts of Southern Connecticut, denying all their offensive opportunities in the first quarter.

The Chargers would be the first team to find the back board and open scoring in the ninth minute of play. Pushing up the field quickly, the Chargers would force a foul in the circle, resulting in a penalty corner in their favor. Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) on the insert would send the ball up to Sophia Ruh (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City), who would dish it off her left to the stick of Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary). Caven with the straight shot from the top of the circle would hit the corner and find the backboard for the first goal of the game.

New Haven would continue their strong defensive efforts, pushing that momentum with a one goal lead entering the second quarter. After many failed attempts, the Owls would eventually find their first goal of the game at 17:31. With the score tied up at 1, both teams looked for the lead to give them momentum entering halftime. With a minute and twenty-four seconds remaining in the second quarter, the Owls would be the team to find that momentum, grabbing their second goal off a corner.

Going into half time, New Haven lead in the shot column seven to five, with senior Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) leading the way for the Chargers offensively registering two shots. Ally Saigh (Grosse Point Woods, Mich./Grosse Point North) in goal for the blue and gold would face three shots, but both shots on goal would be goals for the Owls.

Down by one going into the second half, the Chargers looked to regain momentum and find the equalizer, but Southern had a different plan in mind. Finding their second goal in the first three minutes of the second half off a penalty corner the Owls would take a two-goal lead. Not long after the Owls would advance their lead to three, off another corner straight shot from Tori Geaglone.

With time running down, and Southern up by three the pressure and energy of the game did not dull. Four minutes after the second straight goal from Geaglone, the Chargers would limit the Owls lead to one with a goal off a corner. Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) once again at inserter, would pass straight to Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary), sending a straight shot to the goalie's pads. Off the rebound from the save, Emma Beaujouan (Concord, N.H./Concord) would send a short pass across the stroke line to the stick of Trammel, who would send it in for New Haven's second goal.

With time winding down on the evening, the Chargers were determined to find their way back in the game, finding another goal in the 57th minute of play. Finding yet another corner, Trammel would send the ball to the top of the circle, finding Sophia Ruh (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City). Sophia Ruh (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) moving the corner defensive unit by dishing the ball off her left to Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary). For the second time, Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary) would find a straight shot from the top of the circle, this time to the opposite corner to bring the game back to one.

With less than three minutes left to play, New Haven would find some breaks pushing to the Owls defensive end but would be unable to find the equalizer and send the game into overtime. New Haven would end the evening dominating in the shot column 17-8, Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary) leading the way offensively with six shots, followed by Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) with three.

With the loss, the Chargers now move to 3-8 overall, 3-4 in conference play. Looking into the future, the Chargers will welcome the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University to their home turf in another Northeast-10 Conference matchup. The game is scheduled for Saturday, October 7^th at 7:00 p.m. and you can catch all the action on the Chargers Sports Network on NE10 NOW.