Box Score

MANCHESTER, N.H. – A goal in the 88^th minute by sophomore Maeghan Howard (Bethany, Conn.) propelled the Owls to a 2-1 victory over Southern New Hampshire on Saturday. With the win, the Owls improve to 4-3 (3-2 NE-10), while the Penmen fall to 3-4-1 (1-3-0 NE-10). It was the third consecutive victory overall for the Owls, and second game in a row where the game winner came in the final 10 minutes.

The Penmen jumped on the board first in the 38^th minute of action when junior Megan Hanna took a crossing pass from Rene Hamel, settled in front and beat sophomore goalkeeper Erica Ridella (Warwick, N.Y.) with a shot for her first goal of the season.

Still trailing 1-0 in the 67^th minute, freshman Victoria Buonanni (Durham, Conn.) looked to answer for SCSU with a shot on net, but a Penmen defender was there to make the save and knock the ball away.

The Owls were then able to break through in the 80^th minute following a flurry of action in front of the SNHU net. Sophomore Caroline Staudle (New Windsor, N.Y.) rang a shot off the post that was then cleared out. Seconds later, the ball was sent back in towards the top of the box, where it was grabbed by sophomore Kieran DeBiase (Prospect, Conn.), who chipped the ball up and over the head of SNHU keeper Autumn Scanlon and into the goal to tie the score 1-1.

It was DeBiase's second tally of the season and second goal in as many games.

Over the next seven minutes, the Owls got off 6 shots, including three on goal before finding the back of the net once again. A Bryana Poulin (Webster, Mass.) shot was initially saved by Scanlon, but the ball popped loose and Howard was there to tap in her first career game winning goal to give the Owls a 2-1 lead.

It was the first goal of the season for Howard. Poulin picked up her second assist of the season on the game-winner. Ridella finished with two saves in goal for Southern Connecticut.

SCSU returns to Jess Dow Field this Wednesday, October 1 with a 7 p.m. conference matchup against Le Moyne. Live stats will be available on www.southernctowls.com.