DANBURY, Conn. (Sept. 3, 2026) - The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's soccer team opened the 2026 season with a 1-1 draw against WestConn on Thursday night. The Mariners moved to 0-0-1 on the season, while the Wolves' record goes to 1-0-1.
Game Link
WestConn generated the first scoring opportunity in the 28th minute when Shannon Anderson fired an attempt on net that was turned away by junior goalkeeper Eva Fields (Williamsburg, Va.) to keep the game scoreless. The Mariners broke through late in the opening half as sophomore Stella Newman (Columbus, Ohio) found the back of the net in the 42nd minute off a feed from freshman Hailey Catolico (Apex, N.C.), giving USMMA a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
The Blue and Gray looked to add to their lead early in the second half when sophomore Esmerelda Fogg's (Seattle, Wash.) blast in the 47th minute was denied by Gracen Regan. The Wolves applied pressure later in the half, but sophomore goalkeeper Charli Warren (Atlanta, Ga.) turned aside attempts from Anderson in the 62nd and 63rd minutes before denying Noelle Haase in the 72nd.
WestConn finally broke through moments later as Leah Tomeo scored her second goal of the season in the 72nd minute to even the game at 1-1. USMMA had a pair of opportunities to regain the lead down the stretch. Regan stopped Catolico in the 75th minute before turning aside another opportunity from sophomore Lucy Thomas (Alexandria, Va.) in the 88th to preserve the 1-1 draw.
Warren recorded a career-high six saves, while Fields made one. Regan made four stops on the evening.
The Mariners return to action on Friday, Sept. 11, when they travel to New London, Conn., to take on rival Coast Guard at 7 p.m.
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