NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior Suzane Pires (Sao Paulo, Brazil) scored the eventual game-winning goal as the Southern Connecticut State University women's soccer team opened its home portion of the schedule with a dramatic 2-1 win against Mercy in a non-conference matchup at Jess Dow Field.

The game was scoreless at the end of the first half.

In the second half, both teams had a plan to try to score with more shot opportunities.

The Owls (2-0) got on the board 1-0 in the 65th minute when junior Sarah Brochu (Wilbraham, Mass.) scored off a header, assisted to Hannah Spreckley (York, England) after a corner kick by Pires.



Mercy (1-2) turned up the pressure late and tied the game 1-1 when junior Jennifer Vega scored in 74th minute, to the right side of the net and past sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Fortier (Hudson, N.H.), assisted to MacKenzie Cochrane.

Both teams were very careful with their shot selection until Pires broke through and scored the eventual game-winner in the 85th minute, assisted to Kayla Orozco (Glastonbury, Conn.), to take the 2-1 lead.



The Owls led in shots, 10-9.

Fortier allowed one goal with three saves in 90 minutes of play in her first start of the season.

The Owls will return to action when they travel to Merrimack for their first Northeast-10 Conference game on Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.