Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Eastern Connecticut State University collected a 2-1 season-opening victory over the Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team on Friday afternoon at Brock-Affleck Field. With the win, Eastern Connecticut is 1-0, while the Hawks fall to 0-1.
 
Just 21 seconds into the second overtime period, Eastern Connecticut State University's Aly Clarke (Mystic, Conn.) found the back of the net to lift the Warriors to the win.
 
The Warriors held a 20-15 shot advantage in the victory, while Eastern Connecticut also committed 22 fouls to the Hawks' 11.
 
After 24 minutes of scoreless play, Eastern Connecticut broke the silence when Kaley Pratt (Milford, Conn.) sent a ball through the Hawks' backline, before McKenzie Reimondo (Portland, Conn.) caught up to it and tucked it past O'Donovan to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
 
Just 3:27 later, Roger Williams evened the score at one apiece when Kasey Provost (Peabody, Mass.) gained control of the ball at the top of the box and slid a pass to Arianna Delli Carpini (Bedford Hills, N.Y.), who buried her chance to make it 1-1.
 
The two sides battled back-and-forth for the remainder of the first half, sending the two sides into the break in a 1-1 tie. 
 
"Overall it was disappointing not to get a result of any kind out of our first match of the new season, but there were many positives," said Head Coach Tim Moody. "We didn't start very well but within 10 minutes we had found our rhythm and began to control the game. When that happens we are difficult to stop."
 
"We passed the ball like very few teams can and we were able to create many quality scoring opportunities. We scored an excellent goal to tie the game up at one-all and should have gone onto get enough goals to win the competition in regulation.
 
"The players already understand our philosophy! They have already begun transferring the skills and tactics that we have worked on all week at practice into this first game, which is promising moving forward. With more games ahead of us and more time to practice I believe we can do great things this year.
 
"It was good to see a few new players getting some playing time early on in the season. If you watched us play today you can see what we are trying to do and we are fun to watch. These are a great group of players with high expectations who want to compete every day at practice and you can see that when the Hawks take the pitch on game day!
 
"We were lucky to survive the game today with no major injuries and with four players unavailable for selection we had limited options with what we could do against ECSU. But we battled and matched their physical play.
 
"When we get everyone back fit and healthy, 100% in the zone, sharp, game shape we will be ready for any team we come across on our schedule as well as the playoffs at the end of the season. It should be another awesome journey we take this fall to where ever the destination may be.
 
"We are looking forward to showing our talents at home next Wednesday in Bristol, R.I."
 
On Saturday, Eastern Connecticut will take on Westfield State, back on Brock-Affleck Field at 4 p.m., while Roger Williams will take on host Springfield College at 6:15 p.m.
 
- Release courtesy of the Springfield College Sports Information Department