Women's Soccer gets tripped up in season opener, lose 1-0 to Colby-Sawyer

Story courtesy of Colby-Sawyer Sports Information

NEW LONDON, N.H. – August 31, 2012 - The Colby-Sawyer women's soccer team opened the 2012 season with a 1-0 victory over Rivier in the first game of this weekend's Labor Day Classic. The win, which marks the first victory for first-year Head Coach Meghan Medbery, gives the Chargers a 1-0 record to begin the season. Rivier falls to 0-1.

Junior Adrienne Bender (Wakefield, R.I.) scored the game's lone goal in the 7th minute when she received a cross from senior Sarah Lavalle (Newton, Mass.). Bender was all by herself and calmly put the ball past the keeper. Bender moves into a tie for eighth with 20 career goals.

Rivier had a chance to even the game with seconds remaining when freshman Sahara Brown (Barnstead, N.H.) fired a high shot over the reach of the Colby-Sawyer goalie. The ball ricocheted off the crossbar and found the foot of junior Mariah Payne (Concord, N.H.). Payne took a shot from 18 yards, but it sailed wide to secure the victory for the Chargers.

Senior goalie Shay Spencer (Natick, Mass.) turned away all four shots on goal en route to the shutout victory. Rivier junior goalie Cassandra Brown (Somersworth, N.H.) made 12 saves and allowed one goal in the loss.

The Chargers will host Plymouth on Sunday at 2:30, while the Raiders will play New England College at Kelsey Field at noon.