West Haven, C.T- The Chargers took to their home turf for two games under the lights this week, their first being a 4-2 win against Saint Thomas Aquinas. Today, the blue and gold welcomed back Bentley University to DellaCamera stadium, a rival of the Chargers, that has highlighted some of New Haven's best wins over the past three seasons. For the last three years, the Chargers have yet to take home a regular season win over the Falcons but has advanced into the playoff rounds defeating Bentley three years in a row. All games have resulted in overtime play, including this year's matchup, this one falling into the hands of Bentley with a 3-2 overtime loss for the Chargers.

New Haven commonly trailing the Falcons first in previous games, opened the scoring right away, with just under two minutes played when Femke Boers (The Hague, Netherlands/Brasschaat, Belgium) would find the first goal of the evening. A clear from Bentley's defensive circle would be intercepted by Boers right outside of the sixteen. Boers driving to the baseline with one defender on, would pull to her right, finding a reverse shot that would slip past the pads of Falcons goalkeeper Mia Trottie.

It would not be long before Bentley would get into their offensive groove, scoring nearly two minutes later. After a penalty corner was awarded to the Falcons, the ball would be inserted to the top, with a one touch in from one Falcon offender, who would dish it off to their left. That pass finding an open Abigial Hewes, who would send the pass in to the stroke line, past the feet of multiple players from both New Haven and Bentley to the stick of Libby Harrison who would tip it in to the corner to even the score.

Time would run out in the first quarter with the game tied at one, but New Haven's offense would still lead the game. In the 27^th minute of play, Audrey Larson (Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy) would bring back the Chargers lead with her second goal of the season. Johannah Lee (State College, Pa./State College Area) winning the ball back in the midfield, passing it up to the stick of Larson, who would take an on the move shot while Bentley goalkeeper Trottie would come out to play the ball. Within the stride of Trottie, Larson's shot would find the gap between the pads sending it to the backboard to put the Chargers up 2-1.

Coming out of half time, the Chargers would keep their 2-1 lead. Strong defensive efforts by the New Haven backfield would result in many missed opportunities for the Falcons in the first half, however Bentley would even it up early in the second half. At the 47^th minute, Bentley would be awarded another corner, sending that to the top of the circle. The pass from the top would get dished off to the right side and sent into the pads of Hallie Reiger (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady School). A scramble in front of the goal mouth, would eventually find its way past the line, Katie Thies with credit for the goal, to even the game up once again.

It was no surprise, that a game between the Chargers and the Falcons would end up in any form of overtime, as that has been a common occurrence between the two teams. Taking the field trying to keep their record of overtime wins against the Falcons the Chargers took the field with their select seven. With more open field in overtime, the Chargers found many advances up the field, but no game winning goal.

In the third minute of the overtime period, the game would unfortunately fall into the hands of the Falcons. Picking off a ball a little past the midfield of their own defensive end. The Falcons would get a decently spaced breakaway, with Gracie Moore making her way to the Chargers defensive end, while Lida Coco trailed evenly to her left. With a quick pass to the left, the defensive line of New Haven would be beat, and Coco would have an open reverse shot that would find its way to the opposite corner to end the game.  

Despite the loss, the Chargers were even with the Falcons, both finding 10 shots on the evening, eight making their way on goal, as well as three penalty corners. Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) leading the Chargers with four shots on the evening, followed by Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary), Abby Nixon (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional), and Femke Boers (The Hague, Netherlands/Brasschaat, Belgium) all finding one shot. Goalkeeper Hallie Reiger (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady School) would find herself five saves on nine shots faced to end the night.

The Chargers now fall to 2-5 and are at an even 2-2 in conference play. The Chargers will look to the road as they make their way up to Worcester, to take on another conference opponent the Greyhounds of Assumption. New Haven making history last year with their first win against Assumption in program history in an overtime game, will look to take home an on the road win for the first time this season. That game is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26^th at 7:00 p.m.