09/11/2007
King, Defense Guide Women's Soccer Past Conn. College, 1-0

WORCESTER, MASS. 9/11/2007 -- A single goal from Lauren King (Piscataway, N.J.) proved all the Clark University women’s soccer team needed as a stingy defense kept Connecticut College off the board in a non-conference bout at Granger Field Tuesday night.

With their second consecutive win the Cougars move to 3-2, while Connecticut drops to 0-2.

King’s goal, which turned out to be the game winner, came off a corner kick just 9:46 into the game. The corner was originally deflected by a Connecticut defender but the ball fell right to King, who drilled it in from 25 yards out for her second goal of the season.

Connecticut appeared to have the tying mark as a ball struck inside the box by Chelsea Johnson (Portland, Maine) bounced out of Cougar keeper Joanna Clark’s (Windham, Maine) hands. However, the play was ruled dead as a Connecticut player ran into Clark during the bid.

Clark kept heavy pressure on the ball with four additional corners for a total of five in the half. The Camels had two corners of their own to go along with two shots on goal, but staunch defense from both sides kept the score at 1-0 Clark going into the half.

When play resumed the Cougars had a chance for an insurance goal on a cross from Charlotte Bowman (Peterborough, N.H.) to Jess Mirkin (Wellesley, Mass.), who just missed the tap to send it home.

Connecticut stepped up the offense in the second half in search of an equalizer as they placed eight shots on goal including two corner kicks. The Camels’ best opportunity came on a ball rocketed off the foot of Ryan McManus (Marblehead, Mass.), but Clark made a leaping save to knock the ball over the net and preserve the one-goal lead. The shot sparked an offensive drive where the Camels placed three shots on net in less than two minutes, but the Clark defense held strong to leave Connecticut without a goal.

Despite the loss, Connecticut held a 10-7 margin in shots on goal, but committed 14 fouls to Clark’s six.

The Cougars next travel to Brandeis University on Saturday (1 pm), while Connecticut treks to conference rival Williams College the same day (12 pm).

By: Bill Cobb, Sports Information Intern