MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Playing at home for the first time this season, the No. 21 ranked Wesleyan women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Vassar on Tuesday night from Smith Field. Wesleyan falls to 4-1 while the Brewers are now 5-2.
 
After playing to a scoreless draw against the Brewers at home last season, the Cardinals again struggled to get anything going offensively despite 15 shots and nine corner kicks for the game, clear scoring chances were hard to come by against a Vassar squad that already has three clean sheets on the season.
 
The first shot attempt for either side didn't come until the 21^st minute and the first shot on target wasn't until the 38^th minute when Lina Rodriguez '24 took a right-footed swing from distance that was easily handled by Teresa Zimmer in net.
 
Vassar found the breakthrough, against the run of play, in the 40^th minute as Grace Romano had a shot blocked from in close and the rebound fell to Gigi Panarelli who made no mistake, making it 1-0 Vassar right before the half.
 
Katie O'Connell '25 had a prime scoring chance early in the second half as Rodriguez won the ball at midfield and played a ball to O'Connell up the right side. The junior forward played a give and go with Audrey Lavey '23 as Lavey carried to the end line before crossing in the middle for O'Connell who got a free header off that flashed just wide of the right post.
 
Wesleyan continued to press for a goal, generating four corners before the fourth led to another great chance as Waverly Meyers '26 headed the ball down towards the back post, but Zimmer came up with the stop.
 
On the ensuing goal kick, the Madison Bouggess won possession at midfield and shielded off the Cardinal defender, running all the way to the end line. With a player open in the box, Bouggess sent a cross that required a wonderful volley finish from Claire Karlin as the Brewers got a much-needed insurance marker in the 79^th minute.
 
The Cardinals pulled one goal back in the 89^th minute as the ninth Wesleyan corner kick of the game led to a goal as O'Connell booted a cross that was headed by Serena Sink '24 to Catherine Gallagher '26 who was there to tap in her first goal of the season.
 
Despite outshooting Vassar 15-6, Wesleyan only recorded four shots on-target in the game while the Brewers generated three shots on-goal from their six total attempts at net.
 
Wesleyan looks to get back in the win column this weekend, with a pair of NESCAC 11 AM matches on Saturday and Sunday. The Cardinals open with Trinity on Saturday before taking on Hamilton on Sunday, both from Jackson Field.