NESCAC to impossible

Conn women’s soccer falls to Trinity in double overtime

New London — There are times when it feels as though competing in the New England Small College Athletic Conference should come with a warning label.

As in: Welcome to NESCAC, but beware what lurks below.

The Connecticut College women's soccer team learned the lesson painfully Tuesday af- ternoon. The Camels, likely bound for the conference tournament again, played Trinity, 3-6-1 overall and 2-4 in the league entering the game.

Final score: Trinity 4, Conn 3 in double overtime.

Trinity's Molly Broderick scored with 53.7 seconds left, giving her team one of its biggest wins of the season. Conn (9-3, 4-3) was left with forlorn looks.

“It's an awesome privilege to be part of this conference,” Conn coach Norm Riker said. “You have incredible days like we did on Saturday (a win over Bowdoin) and then disappointing days like today. All in one week. You just never know. We have to pick ourselves up and get after it

again.”

Kat Norton's second goal of the game gave the Camels a 2-1 lead in the second half. Julianna Kennedy's goal eventually gave Trinity the lead at 3-2 before Bella Patino converted a penalty kick late in regulation for Conn to force overtime.

Early in overtime, the Camels ran a set play off a direct kick that nearly ended the game. The ball was inches from the goal line.

“We had a 2-1 lead at home, then they go ahead and we do a great job getting back into it,” Riker said. “We have a great set piece we worked on for a long time. Executed it to near perfection and just couldn't find the back of the net. A great opportunity to end the game. Then overtime in NESCAC where anything can happen. And it did.”

Riker believes Conn has already qualified for the NESCAC Tournament, although this result didn't help.

“Math tells me we are in already,” he said. “But you're hoping to host a quarterfinal. There are rankings and other stuff. But when a day like today happens, you can't worry about it. Come out tomorrow and get better. We have a great culture here and have had a great season. That's what's disappointing. We found the equalizer in a tough game but couldn't finish at the end. We need to keep working, keep believing.”

SEAN D. ELLIOT/ THE DAY Connecticut College’s Marielle McEnaney goes airborne from a collision with Trinity’s Delaney Markham (27) in NESCAC women’s soccer action Tuesday on Freeman Field in New London. Trinity won 4-3 in double overtime.

SEAN D. ELLIOT/THE DAY Conn College’s Kat Norton, left, races to celebrate her second goal against Trinity with teammate Zoe Stublarec in NESCAC women’s soccer action Tuesday.