MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A goal in the final minutes by Wesleyan University broke a 1-1 tie, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 win over the Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team Wednesday afternoon.

With the win, Wesleyan improves to 5-4 on the season, while Roger Williams is now 5-6-1.

Junior Laura Kurash (Voorhees, N.J.) netted a pair of goals including the game-winner in the 86th minute to increase her team-leading goal total to nine. Sophomore Amy Toig (Palo Alto, Calif.) sent a ball from the right side of the box that Roger Williams sophomore keeper Stephanie Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) got both of her hands on, but the rebound went to Kurash in front, who put it home with 4:50 remaining in the game.

Roger Williams had jumped on the scoreboard first courtesy of senior Katie Fusaro (Hopkinton, Mass.). Fusaro took a pass from freshman Kristen Tetreault (Tolland, Conn.) and ran in alone, beating Wesleyan senior netminder Clare Colton (Montclair, N.J.) and shooting into an open net with 15:28 gone in the game. The goal was Fusaro's fourth of the year and moved her into a tie for the team scoring lead with 10 points.

Wesleyan knotted the score ten minutes later. Roger Williams was called for a foul just inside the penalty area, and Kurash converted the penalty kick at 25:24, sending the ball into the lower-right corner of the net.

Roger Williams had a pair of dangerous opportunities in both halves but could not convert. In the 29th minute, Colton stopped a shot by junior Maddy Howard (Medfield, Mass.) but could not control the rebound. Tetreault was the first to the ball, but her low shot went right at Colton. The Hawks also threatened to tie the score with 53 seconds remaining in the game following a corner kick, but Wesleyan freshman keeper Jessica Tollman (Brookline, Mass.), who had entered to start the second half, dropped to the ground to stop a low shot from traffic in front by Hawk freshman Julie Lowenstein (Malta, N.Y.).

Jaques finished with four saves in the Roger Williams net. Colton had a pair of first-half stops, and Tollman recorded one save in the final 45 minutes.

The game was just the second-ever meeting between the two teams, as Wesleyan took a 2-1 victory in Bristol, R.I. last season.

“We started slow; they had a great chance to go one up, but [Stephanie] Jaques positioned herself well to make the stop,” said Head Coach Tim Moody. “We woke up and for the next 25 minutes took over the game. Katie [Fusaro] scored a good goal and finished well from an attack down the right flank. We had another opportunity to go up two but their keeper made a good save from Kristin Tetreault after some more good work down the right flank from Julie Lowenstein who made her first start this season.

“We were unlucky to concede a penalty. This tied up the game; Wesleyan changed their shape to contain us. However we still had the better of the play as our ten corners to their one showed over the course of the game, we were in the attacking half a lot.

“We almost scored two goals near the end of the game to win it, but it just didn't happen. Today, we passed really well, we had good movement and we maintained our shape. It was one of our better team performances, several players played with a high level of skill and commitment today.”

Both teams return to action on Saturday as Wesleyan hosts Bates College in a NESCAC battle while Roger Williams takes on Endicott College in TCCC action.

- Release courtesy of the Wesleyan University Sports Information Department