A Late Blow
Brown University’s women’s soccer team opened its 2026 schedule with a road test against Holy Cross, falling 1-0 in a tightly contested match that marked the Bears’ first away game of the season.
The decisive moment arrived in the 62nd minute when Sam Halligan received the ball outside the penalty area and struck a low drive that slipped past the Bears’ defense, giving the Crusaders a narrow lead.
Between the posts, goalkeepers Gurleen Toor and Addison Etter combined for seven saves, with Toor making three stops in the first half and Etter adding four in the second, keeping the Bears within striking distance despite the deficit.
Offensively, the Bears outshot the Crusaders 12-10 and earned eight corner kicks to three, yet they could not convert, with senior Joy Okonye leading the attack with two shots and two on target, while sophomore Naomi Nnewihe added another on‑goal effort.
Full‑time field players such as juniors Nadja Meite, Kyra Treanor, Chesney Robinson and Brooke Birtwistle saw considerable minutes, but the team will look to translate its volume of chances into goals in upcoming fixtures.
Brown’s next test arrives on Thursday, August 27, when it hosts Connecticut at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+, followed by a Sunday showdown with Penn State at 1:00 p.m. on B1G+.