Old Westbury Slips Past Women's Soccer

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 setback to SUNY Old Westbury on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at Alumni Field.

The Panthers trailed 1-0 at intermission but scored twice in the second half to improve to 2-7 overall on the season. Gianna Levine tied the game in the 53rd minute to set the stage for Alysha Annarella, who tacked on the game winner in the 64th. Goalkeeper Alexa Higgins made the margin stand to record her first win of the year.

Mitchell struck first in the 36th minute when Lindsey Fairbank scored from the right side on a chip shot over the keeper. The goal was the first of her collegiate career and gave the Mariners their first halftime lead of the season.

Old Westbury equalized early in the second half when Cara Normile slipped a pass through Mitchell's back line that Levine caught in stride. She fired a left-footed shot from the left side of the box that caromed off the far post and in for her first career goal.

Levine nearly put the Panthers on top in the 63rd minute but saw a blast ricochet off the crossbar and cleared away. Just over a minute later, a Mitchell foul yielded a free kick for Old Westbury from around 25 yards out. Annarella stepped up and placed a perfect shot on goal, squeezing her attempt under the crossbar and just out of the reach of goalie Jordan Lohneiss. The tally was also the first of her career.

The Mariners kept pressuring for the tying goal and saw their best chance denied with just over five minutes to go in regulation. Fairbank was wide open down the right side of the field and had a one-on-one chance against Higgins, but the latter made the stop to keep the Panthers in front.

Old Westbury held a 17-14 advantage in total shots. Both Higgins and Lohneiss finished with nine saves apiece.

Mitchell (1-5-0 overall) will next play at Dean College on Saturday, September 30 at 1 p.m.