Women’s Soccer Opens League Play with Double OT Loss at New England College

HENNIKER, N.H.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's soccer team suffered a heart-breaking 3-2 setback in double-overtime at New England College Saturday afternoon in the first conference match of the fall.

The Lions progress to 2-7-0 on the season and 0-1-0 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the result. The Pilgrims improve to 3-7-0 overall and 1-1-0 in league competition with the victory.

The guests snagged a 1-0 edge in the 18th minute. Sam Baston (Carver, Mass.) found the back of the net with a long-range effort to tally her first goal of the season.

The home team equalized in the 28th minute to pull even at 1-1. Mackenzie Fels notched her first marker of the year as Leeann Demirjian provided the assist.

Eastern Nazarene reclaimed a one-goal advantage in the final minute of the first half. Diamond Best (Danvers, Mass.) pounced on a loose ball inside the six-yard box to slam home her team-leading second goal of the fall.

The Lions sported a 2-1 lead at the midway point of the match while New England College held a 14-8 advantage in shot attempts.

The Pilgrims knotted the contest at 2-2 with a strike in the 65th minute. Demirjian buried her fourth tally of the season while Darian Taylor picked up her first collegiate helper.

New England College scored the game-winning goal in the 101st minute to secure its first conference victory of the year. Shelby McBain bagged her first marker of the season for the golden goal just 20 seconds into the second overtime period.

Eastern Nazarene produced 12 shots in the contest while New England College racked up 34 attempts.

Sophia Fevola (Wellington, Fla.) finished with 10 saves in her ninth start of the year.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene heads to Southern Maine October 5.