On Oct 30, the New Haven Chargers faced a tough test against the Molloy University Lions at John A. Darcy Field in Rockville Centre, NY. From the outset, both teams had amazing defense, with New Haven aiming to build off a recent tie against power house Saint Michael’s. Despite the Chargers’ good effort, the Molloy Lions defeated New Haven, 2-0.
From the start of the match, Molloy established a strong offensive presence. In the 35th minute, the Lions made their move. Bella Juliano scored with a shot from 20 yards out, which found the top left corner of the net after an assist from Isabella Muro. With this goal, Molloy had a 1-0 advantage entering halftime. The Chargers defense, led by goalkeeper Caitlin Daley, worked tirelessly to contain Molloy’s aggressive offense. Daley showcased a great game in which she made several key saves, and totaled five saves throughout the match to keep the Chargers in contention.
Despite the setback, New Haven remained calm. As the second half began, the Chargers looked to shift the momentum in their favor. They started the half with renewed energy, aiming to create scoring chances. Chargers’ forwards Grace Simpson and Vickie Flemingm,, worked to break Molloy’s defense, but the Lions remained organized and composed, stopping any efforts of scoring from the Chargers.
On the other hand, Molloy continued to apply pressure and control this match. In the 65th minute, they doubled their lead when Sarah Cavallo scored from 25 yards out, assisted by Madison Falkowski. With their backs against the wall, the Chargers intensified their efforts. The urgency for New Haven was palpable as they pushed forward in search for the equalizing goal. Key players, Emily Marco and Madison Maxwell, began to connect more effectively and generated a few promising opportunities. The Chargers earned a corner kick and attempted to capitalize, but the Molloy defense stood firm and blocked attempts then secured possession.
The match featured a significant number of fouls, which reflected the intense competition on the field. New Haven committed a total of 13 fouls compared to Molloy’s six. This led to several cautions, with Angelina Schilling and Gabriela Garcia-Perez receiving yellow cards for the Chargers, alongside Molloy’s Madison Keenan. The physical nature of the game underscored both teams’ commitment to winning but also resulted in a frantic pace as time began to run out for New Haven. As the final whistle approached, the Chargers pushed forward, desperately seeking a breakthrough. However, they were unable to convert any chances into goals, thanks in large part to Molloy’s goalkeeper, Elyse Munoz, who made crucial saves to preserve her team’s clean sheet.
The match concluded as New Haven fell short 2-0, which leaves them with a record of 3-9-4 overall and 0-5-4 in conference play. The Chargers will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday to face their cross town rivals, the Southern Connecticut State University Owls. The game will be held at Jess Dow Field. If you want to follow the journey of the Chargers women’s soccer team, and find more information about upcoming matches, check out NewHavenChargers.com.
