strongAlanna Grady, Beacon Correspondent/strong

Whether at home or away, it’s all the same for the Emerson women’s soccer team. Though Monday night’s matchup against non-conference foe Newbury College saw a change in venue, the Lions remained as focused as ever.

“I didn’t really pay attention,” senior midfielder Carmen Trobaugh said of the location change. The game, which was supposed to be a home game for Newbury, was relocated to Rotch Field due to a scheduling conflict. “I just go where they tell me to.”

For Trobaugh, going where she was told meant all over the field.

After falling in an early 1-0 hole when Newbury forward Briana Tomaselli scored 13 minutes into the game, Trobaugh and the rest of the team did not play discouraged.

“I just tried to put it behind me,” said freshman goalkeeper Allie Altman, who faced constant pressure from the Nighthawks in the first few minutes of the game.

Half an hour into the game, senior defender Megan Foehl’s near-goal that sailed just over the top of the crossbar seemed to give the team momentum. Just minutes later, Trobaugh had her own good look at a goal, but also missed just wide of the goalpost. Finally, Trobaugh had another chance and was able to convert, knocking the ball into the net, tying the game at one.

Soon after, both Trobaugh and Foehl had assists on junior forward Amy Gutierrez’s goal, coming only six minutes later, giving Emerson a 2-1 lead.

But according to Trobaugh, there’s always room for improvement.

“I wasn’t really happy with the win,” she said. “We should have beaten them by a lot more. My goals were to just work as a team and keep the team talking.”

Trobaugh kept communication going during the game, as she and Foehl were often seen teaming up and working together to help bring the ball toward the Newbury goal.

“I played four years with her, so we know how each other plays,” Trobaugh said.

Foehl showed off her speed throughout the contest as she raced from corner to corner, setting up her teammates for shots as well as taking some of her own.

The intensity carried on throughout the rest of the game, even though the second half was scoreless. The Lions took every opportunity to fire shots at Newbury’s goal, including shots by sophomore defender Amber Bigwood and sophomore midfielder Casey Jablonski.

Even so, not everything went the Lions’ way during the game. With about half an hour left, Gutierrez was injured after a shot on goal. She was able to walk off the field under her own strength, though there is concern that she may have irritated a prior injury.

“Amy came into this season really fit,” head coach David Suvak said of his player. “She was one of the hardest working during the offseason, and I’m hoping the best for her.”

Strong defense by Bigwood and junior Elizabeth Corti helped Emerson maintain its lead through the second half, keeping the ball away from Altman.

Newbury stepped up the pressure in the last few minutes, however, and directed many more shots at the freshman.

“I was definitely nervous,” Altman said. “The last couple of minutes were scary. It’s scary having a lead and then losing it. We did all we could to prevent that, and I think we did a good job.”

Suvak agreed with his player’s assessment.

“I thought we played possession and moved the ball well. Overall, I’m very happy with how we played tonight,” he said.

The ball ended the game where it started — on Newbury’s side of the field, with goalkeeper Rachel Wyszynski under fire, scrambling to make saves. The Lions were on the attack, keeping the shots on goal coming until the final seconds and finishing the game just the way they started, and more importantly, preserving their lead.

With Monday night’s win, the Lions knocked the Nighthawks below .500 and improved their record at Rotch Field to 3-0-1.