Hartford, Conn. – Sophomore midfielder Megan Leonhard (Summit, N.J.) scored four goals and picked up a game-high six ground balls to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 13-5 win over the visiting New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rival Connecticut College Camels in the season opener for both teams this afternoon on Sheppard Field. Trinity, ranked No. 6 in the nation, wins its 10th in a row over the Camels.
Ahead, 2-1, after nearly 11 minutes of play, the Bantams rattled off nine unanswered tallies including two apiece by Leonhard and classmate Kaitlin Hildebrand (Berwyn, Pa.). Trinity led, 7-1, after one half and, 11-1, with 13 minutes left in the game, before junior midfielder Hope Barone (North Kingstown, R.I.) broke the Camel scoring drought at the 12:10 mark. Play slowed down and the teams traded goals back and forth the rest of the way.
Trinity outshot Connecticut College, 38-20, for the game and, 23-6, in the first half, and converted on three of six free positions while holding the Camels scoreless on all six of its free positions. The Bantams also forced 29 turnovers and committed just 15. Hildebrand added an assist to total three points, while senior co-captain attacker Rachel Romanowsky (Hampstead, N.H.) added one goal and two assists, and junior midfielder Liz Bruno (Andover, Mass.) notched one goal, one assist, and three caused turnovers for the Bantams. Trinity junior defender Elizabeth Beckler (Potomac, Md.) had four ground balls and four caused turnovers, while junior Gina Dinallo (West Hartford, Conn.) and sophomore Olivia Whitney (Danvers, Mass.) combined to make eight saves.
Freshman attacker Lowell Abbott (Manchester, Mass.) scored twice for Connecticut College, while Barone and sophomore midfielder Bri Miller (Sudbury, Mass.) contributed a goal and an assist apiece. Barone also picked up five ground balls and recorded a game-high five draw controls, while freshman goalie Caitlin Cataldo (Milford, Conn.) made 16 of her team's 18 saves in 53 minutes.
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