Hartford, Conn. – Junior forward Andi Nicholson (Grafton, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Wesleyan University Cardinals in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) women's soccer action this afternoon.  Trinity snaps a two-game losing skid and improves to 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the NESCAC, while the Cardinals drop to 5-6-2 overall and 2-4-2 in the league with their third consecutive setback.

After a scoreless first half that saw the teams combined for just three shots on goal in on-and-off snow flurries, Wesleyan junior Sarah Sylla (Ardsley, N.Y.) scored unassisted 2:29 into the second half.  Trinity broke a 163-minute scoring drought with some help from the Cardinals, as a Wesleyan defender deflected a pass into the box intended for Bantam first-year forward Taylor Kirchgessner (Bethesda, Md.) into her own goal to the score at 101 in the 58th minute.

Over the next 20 minutes, Trinity sophomore Sarah Connors (Winnetka, Ill.) and senior tri-captain Alexa Menard (Wallingford, Conn.) both shot just high on decent bids, while Bantam senior tri-captain goalie Monica DiFiori (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) preserved the home team's lead with a key save on a header by Cardinal senior midfielder Madeline Keane (Newtown, Conn.) off a Wesleyan corner to keep the contest tied. 

Nicholson one-timed the clinching marker from 12 yards away in front of the goal with 10:13 remaining, converted on a pretty pass by junior midfielder Laura Nee (Duxbury, Mass.) from the right of the post to the goalkeeper's left.  Kirchgessner outdueled several Cardinals to head the ball past Cardinal goalie Meghan Hanan (Sammamish, Wash.) on a bounce in the 86th minute, as Bantam junior midfielder Kendra Lena (Madison, Conn.) served up a perfect ball off a corner kick.

Watch the goal by Taylor Kirchgessner

DiFiori finished with five saves and Hanan had three.  Trinity clinches a post-season bid with the win and moves into sole possession of second place in the NESCAC with two league games left to play.  The game was preceded by a Senior Day ceremony honoring DiFiori, Menard, fellow senior tri-captain Abby Siebert (Melrsoe, Mass.) and seniors Julia Leahy (Hingham, Mass.) and Kelsey Thomas (Stonington, Conn.) on their final regular-season weekend home game.