FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Yale used a little late game magic to pick up a win in its first road game of the season.

Frannie Coxe scored on a penalty kick with 1:34 left in the second half to lift the Bulldogs to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sacred Heart on a beautiful late-summer night at Campus Field.

The Bulldogs were awarded the kick when Geneva Decker got behind the SHU defense and was pulled down in the box.

It was similar to a call that was made earlier in the second half. That one benefitted the Pioneers as Kristin Verrette scored on a penalty kick to the score at 1-1.

Yale head coach Rudy Meredith was pleased with the perseverance his team showed to earn the victory. At times, the Pioneers had the better of the play, and they finished with a 19-9 edge in shots.

“They are a well-coached team that never stops working,” Meredith said. “They had us under pressure, but we kind of bent but didn’t break. Last year I don’t think we win this game.”

In fact, essentially they didn’t. Sacred Heart came into Reese Stadium last fall, played a similar game and walked away with a 2-1 win.

“I think we are mentally tougher this year,” Meredith said.

The Bulldogs, who are now 2-0 for the second straight year, grabbed an early lead when Coxe took a feed from Meredith Speck and fired a shot inside the near post from the top of the box.

In the first two games, Coxe now has two goals and two assists.

“She’s healthy and playing with confidence,” Meredith said.

Meredith once again split the goalkeeping duties. Elise Wilcox played the first half and made four saves, while Rachel Ames came on for the final 45 minutes and stopped five shots.

The Bulldogs are back in action when they host Western Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, the opening night of the Yale Classic. Manhattan plays Sacred Heart in the first game starting at 5 p.m.

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