PIKE CREEK, Del. - Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Goldey-Beacom College women's soccer team surrendered three unanswered goals in the second stanza en-route to a 3-1 loss to Nyack College in a pivotal Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game on Sat. afternoon at Nancy Churchman-Sawin Field.

The Lightning fall to 4-6 in league play with today's loss while Nyack improves to 5-5. The loss proved devastating in the league standings as not only Nyack moved ahead, but Dominican, Holy Family and Georgian Court all separated themselves from GBC with wins in their respective games today.

Goldey-Beacom dominated play in the first half, doubling-up the Warriors in shots (10-5), taking more corner kicks (4-3), and even striking for the first and only goal of the half at the 38-minute mark. The goal was scored by senior Felicia Justice, her second of the season. Senior Marissa Valladares and freshman Nicole Curry were both credited with assists.

But the second half belonged to Nyack, who out-shot the Lightning 11-3 and scored three unanswered goals for what amounted to a resounding Warrior win. Ashlee Hayes put the visitors on the board with goal in the 58th minute, capitalizing on a thru ball from Erin Farber to knot the score at one apiece. Then, Stacey Cervantes, the most active offensive player in the game with six shots, had a nice run culminating in a cross into the box that was finished by Heather Wakeley for the go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute. Cervantes later worked a pretty give-and-go play with Jen Martino for an insurance goal in the 72nd minute.

GBC struggled to maintain possession as the Warriors took it to the Lightning in the final 45 minutes. Freshman Alex Smith had perhaps the Lightning's best scoring opportunity in the second frame when she stole the ball from a Nyack defender, turned, and fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box just high of the net. Smith remains just one goal shy of tying the school single-season goals record of 15. The Lightning are 0-6 in games when Smith does not score and 6-1 in games when she does score.

Marissa Valladares had a team-high five shots for the Lightning, not including what would have been a goal if not for a "dangerous play" foul called by the head official in regards to how high Valladares lifted her leg in the air to kick the ball with a Nyack player in the immediate vicinity. Senior defender Adrianna Polimeni and Justice each tallied two shots as well. Polimeni ripped a shot in the second half from about 30-yards out that barely sailed over the crossbar. 

Senior goalkeeper Kristin Degenhardt made four saves in a losing effort while Nyack's Maddy Barbarino collected four saves and allowed just one goal in the win.

The Lightning host CACC South Division rival Georgian Court University on Tues. afternoon at 3 p.m. The Lions have won their last three, including a 3-0 win over the second-place Felician Golden Falcons this afternoon.