Last Tuesday, Nov. 6, the New Haven Chargers faced off against the Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) Owls in a dramatic 4-4 draw at Jess Dow Field. The game was a thrilling back-and-forth contest that showcased the resilience and attacking spirit of both teams, with the Chargers staging a remarkable second-half comeback after being down 3-0 at halftime.
The match began with Southern Connecticut seizing early control of the game. In the fifth minute, Shi Reeves opened the scoring for SCSU, and capitalized on an assist from Alexie Rosado and Sydney Myers to give the home team a 1-0 lead. The Chargers struggled to break down Southern Connecticut’s defense in the opening half, while SCSU continued to apply pressure. In the 41st minute, Myers doubled the advantage and scored off an assist from Caileigh Driscoll to make it 2-0 as they entered halftime.
After the break, SCSU continued to dominate. In the 46th minute, Myers completed her brace and scored a third goal for the home team which extended their lead to 3-0. At that point, it looked as though the game might be slipping away from New Haven. However, the Chargers refused to give up.
New Haven began to build momentum, and in the 69th minute, Angelina Schilling scored the first goal for the Chargers and cut the deficit to 3-1. Just six minutes later, the Chargers found the net again, with a goal that made it 3-2 and brought them right back into the game. The energy in the match shifted, and New Haven’s attacking players began to find their rhythm which putSCSU’s defense under pressure.
In the 79th minute, New Haven completed their comeback, as Alida Bates scored the equalizer to bring the score to 3-3. The drama didn’t end there. With only two minutes left in regulation, the Chargers stunned Southern Connecticut when Bates assisted Caroline Ennis, who scored to give New Haven a 4-3 lead. The Chargers, having come from behind to take the lead, now found themselves desperately defending in the final moments.
Southern Connecticut pushed forward in search of an equalizer, and with just seconds remaining, they earned a late free kick opportunity. Despite a strong offensive push, including a shot from Reeves that was saved by New Haven goalkeeper Caitlin Daley, the Chargers managed to hold on for the 4-4 draw.
Statistically, Southern Connecticut dominated in shots, as they registered 22 attempts with 13 on target, while New Haven had only six shots, three of which were on goal. Daley had an outstanding performance, making nine saves to keep the Chargers in the game. New Haven committed 20 fouls and earned several yellow cards including Riley Drosopoulos, Schilling and Brooke Olsen. Southern Connecticut was also cautioned, with yellow cards given to Reeves, Rosado and Olivia Jones.
The draw leaves New Haven with a 3-9-6 overall record on the season, while Southern Connecticut moves to 6-5-5. Despite the challenges posed by a strong SCSU side, New Haven’s second-half performance displayed their resilience and fighting spirit. The comeback will certainly serve as a confidence booster as they prepare for their upcoming matches. Fans of the Chargers can continue to follow the team’s progress and future games at NewHavenChargers.com.
