Coast Guard Trips Up Women's Soccer

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Two second-half goals propelled Coast Guard Academy to a 2-0 non-conference victory over Mitchell College on Wednesday evening. 

With the win Coast Guard improves to 7-10 overall while Mitchell falls to 3-8-4 on the season. 

Coast Guard (7-10-0 overall) had the first scoring chance when Katie Clark flicked on a free kick at the top of the Mitchell penalty box to Brianna Grisell. After taking a touch, Grisell beat her defender and fired a shot on goal that forced a kick save out of senior goalkeeper Katie McBride and was cleared by the Mariners' defense. 

Mitchell then gained some space in the attacking third as sophomore Vanessa Ortiz took a shot from deep. Her shot carried over the head of goalkeeper Rachel Boohar but clattered off the crossbar and back into play. Freshman Drew Johndrow collected the rebound and fired another shot but was denied by Boohar. 

Back on the offensive end, Grisell put Kali Borden through on the left of the Mitchell 18-yard box. Borden ripped a one-touch shot but McBride was there to make the near-post save.

Terry Netusil was on the attack next for the Bears in the first half as she snapped a shot from the left side that was blocked by the Mariners' defense. Netusil however pounced on the rebound and fired another shot that was pushed wide by a diving McBride. 

Towards the end of the half Hanna Jansson managed to dribble through a high Mitchell back line and was in on a breakaway. Jansson hit a quick shot as she was caught from behind by a defender but was stopped by McBride. 

Mitchell looked to be the first team to break the deadlock in the second half as sophomore Christina Jando headed a bouncing ball over a Coast Guard defender, putting her in on goal. Jando struck a hard shot but sent it over the bar and out of play. 

The Bears pressed again as Borden received a pass from Jansson off a corner kick. Borden sent a cross to the center of the penalty box where Clark headed it towards goal but was denied by McBride. 

Coast Guard continued to pressure the Mitchell back line but could not crack McBride until the 73rd minute when Gabby Auzenburgs snuck in and stole the ball from McBride before she could pick it up on the right side of the 18-yard box. Auzenburgs stopped the ball from going over the end line and sent a pass back across goal. Sarah Hills met the cross and fired a one-time shot into the empty net for her team-leading sixth goal of the season. 

The Bears were not done scoring when just under four minutes later Terry Netusil settled a ball at the top of Mitchell's penalty box, beat her defender and fired a shot into the left corner of the goal for her fifth goal of the season.

Boohar made four saves on eight shots, four on goal. McBride made 14 saves on 31 shots, 16 on goal. 

Mitchell will wrap up regular season play at Daniel Webster College on Saturday, October 31 at noon.