NEWPORT – In a game that was mostly dominated by the Tigers, it was the visiting ConVal Cougars (3-6-1) that were able to make the most of their offensive possessions to pick up the 2-1 win, with the game-winning goal coming with just 14 seconds left on the clock.
Newport had 14 more penalty corners and 4 more shots on goal than ConVal, but couldn’t find the back of the cage.
“We had tons of chances and we didn’t capitalize on them,” said Newport head coach Steve Christensen. “I thought we played extremely hard… and give credit to ConVal… they played hard right down to the final 14 seconds. That’s a tough way to lose but that’s how it goes sometimes.”
After a ConVal goal just seven minutes in, Newport answered back midway through the first half. Liza Bates scored in the middle of the ConVal defense off of a beautiful pass from senior Selena Coronis to tie the game at 1. A few minutes later, Coronis had a back-hand shot attempt but it was brushed aside by ConVal’s keeper to keep the game knotted going into the half.
The second half was filled with Newport shots that just barely missed, keeping the home crowd anticipating the go-ahead goal that never came. At the 23-minute mark, Coronis had another shot-attempt, this time a hopper that sailed just wide. Five minutes later, Lacey McNeel delivered a chest-high shot on what seemed like an open net, but ConVal’s keeper made the play of the day, as she lunged to her right and made a stick save to keep the game tied.
Newport continued to have their chances late, as McNeel and Maddie Miller were right on the doorstep, but their shots rolled just wide of the cage. Newport falls to 7-6 on the year, after winning four of their previous five games. The Tigers will most likely be on the road when playoffs open up.
Newport honored their two seniors at halftime in front of their home crowd; Coronis, who contributed the assist early on and was constantly attacking the ConVal defense throughout, and Megan Howard, the vocal captain in the middle of the field who provided the Tigers with sparks offensively with long passes deep into the ConVal zone.
After the game, coach Christensen spoke highly of the two.
“They’re outstanding,” he said. “You can only go as far as your senior leadership will allow you to go. I couldn’t have asked for two better seniors. They’re always encouraging the other kids and what I love about them the most is that they’re not ‘yes’ people… if I ask for their opinion… they’ll tell me the truth. I love that about them. We will definitely miss them. They are going to be hard to replace.”
Newport will travel to Hopkinton on Friday at 4 p.m. for their final game of the regular season.
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