Pala posts second straight shutout; Seahawks win 2-0

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Coast Guard dropped their first game of the season as Salve Regina scored a goal in each half to win by a final score of 2-0.

With the loss the Bears fall 3-1-1 on the season while the Seahawks win their fourth straight and improve to 4-2.

Coast Guard had early opportunities as sophomore goalkeeper Carly Pala was forced to make a few early saves.

In the 24th minute freshman Claire Hurley snuck a pass into senior Katie Clark on the left side but her shot was blocked for a corner.

On the ensuing corner kick, senior Terry Netusil settled the service and sent it back across goal. Hurley was able to get a head on the ball but sent it wide and out of play.

Shortly after that sequence, Clark laid a pass back to Netusil at the top of the 18 yard box. Netusil rifled a shot towards goal but Pala dove to her left and made the save.

Salve Regina was on the attack next as sophomore Abby McMackin collected a bouncing ball in the Coast Guard penalty box and passed it to freshman Ella Rath who fired a shot past sophomore Rachel Boohar but clanged off the right post and away from goal. 

Not a minute later Rath and McMackin linked up again as McMackin's pass was deflected by a Bear's defender but still squirted through to the feet of Rath. Rath dribbled in on goal and Boohar came off her line to attempt to slide in and stop Rath. As Boohar went into her slide Rath touched a shot just underneath her and into the goal for her second goal of the season giving the Seahawks a 1-0 lead at the 32:02 mark. 

In the second half, Coast Guard again had the early opportunities as Clark received a pass on the left side of Salve Regina's 18 yard box in the 49th minute. Clark was able to put her shot past a charging Pala but lifted it too much as it went over the goal and out of play.

In the 63rd minute, junior Gabby Auzenbergs sent a corner kick into the box. Her service found Clark who ripped a volley on goal. Her shot hit off the cross bar and back out and was cleared away by the Seahawk's defense.

Salve Regina put in their second goal of the game as Rath slid a pass through the Bear's back line and found senior Raine Oseterle who took a touch and then knocked a shot past a diving Boohar, off the right post and into the back of the net for her first goal of the year with 74:49 showing on the clock making the eventual final score 2-0.

Boohar (3-1-1) made four saves on six shots on goal. This is the first time this season that Boohar and the Coast Guard defense has allowed more than one goal in a game.

Pala (4-2) stopped all six shots on goal she faced for her second shutout in as many games.