After struggling a bit in September, Chestnut Hill College women’s soccer got a conference win at home last Wednesday evening, defeating visiting Lincoln University, 3-1.

Starting off with two goals by junior Lauren Sullivan, a former Springside Chestnut Hill Academy standout, the host Griffins added a third goal in the second half before the Lincoln Lions got on the board with three minutes remaining in the game.

Another SCH grad, sophomore Ellie Stratz, started the game in goal, making two saves and shutting out the visitors in the first half before freshman Haley Esposito took over in the cage for the second stanza.

Lincoln University joined the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference this year solely for the sport of women’s soccer, so with Wednesday’s win, CHC improved to 2-5-1 overall and 2-3 within the CACC. The Griffins lost by a single goal in two conference contests, which came against Jefferson University and Wilmington University.

In addition to Stratz and Sullivan, Chestnut Hill starts CHC grads Virginia Perry (a junior) and Brigid McDonald (a sophomore). McDonald was sidelined by injured for most of her freshman season, but came back this fall to earn a starting spot.

Also starting is Toni Linus, a graduate student out of Penn Charter. Linus began her collegiate career at West Chester University, then transferred to Chestnut Hill last year and immediately became a starter.

Ten minutes into last Wednesday’s game, Sullivan scored on a hard shot from the middle of the 18-yard-line, with senior Abby Galazka earning an assist. With a little under nine minutes remaining in the first half, Galazka again got the ball to Sullivan, this time in the right side of the box.

This was a softer shot, with Sullivan sending the ball rolling diagonally toward the left goal post. Lincoln netminder did not immediately rush toward the ball, seeming to think it would travel outside the post. Instead, it bounced off the upright and wandered across the goal line. The half ended with the hosts leading, 2-0.

Lincoln was now well aware of the threat posed by Sullivan, and she aggressively guarded in the second half, getting knocked down several times.

The second period progressed with the 2-0 score still tacked on the board. It looked as though the game would end that way as Chestnut Hill subbed in a number of reserve players, but there was a flurry of activity in the final five minutes of the contest.

With 3:56 left to go, freshman Lorenza D’Andrea scored to give the Griffins a second insurance goal. Lincoln's Grace Quiah scored just 48 seconds later, making a long run right up the middle of the field to put a shot past CHC’s Esposito. That locked in the 3-1 final score.

Sullivan leads Chestnut Hill in scoring, with four goals and two assists. In goal, Stratz has a goals-against average of 1.8 and a save percentage of 0.750.