SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-A last-minute goal by the penalty corner offense of the Southern Connecticut State University Owls was the difference in a heartbreaking 4-3 loss for the American International College field hockey team in their home opener.

AIC falls to 1-4 on the year and 0-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference.

SCSU opened the scoring at 5:11 on a rebound goal by junior forward Bailey McGinnis (North Branford, Conn.) as the ball bounced back to her after her initial shot on a breakaway.

However, AIC bounced back to tie it on a penalty corner at 21:29 as senior midfielder Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) dished right to left to classmate midfielder Emily Kollar (Leighton, Pa.) for a blast that found the back of the cage.

In the second half, AIC jumped out to a 2-1 lead as a shot by sophomore forward Liv Magni (Sweet Valley, Pa.) was tipped in by junior forward Taylor Ruscillo (Carle Place, N.Y.) at 39:24. The edge was short-lived, however, as the Owls earned a penalty stroke and converted at 39:24, with junior Vienna Pallisco (Sherman, Conn.) converting.

The Owls gained the lead back at 59:36 on a rebound off of a blocked shot that was put back by rookie defender Sadie Young (West Brookfield, Mass.), but the Yellow Jackets rallied and earned a penalty corner that was executed to perfection with an insert by junior midfielder Shea Homer (Glens Falls, N.Y.) that was stopped by Kollar and ripped into the net by McLean at 64:00.

However, the final goal, also scored on a corner, came for the Owls with just :48 left on the clock, as junior midfielder Zoe Fanolis (Hamden, Conn.) found the back of the net from the left side of the circle to win the game.

Rookie goalkeeper Taylor Ross (Stroudsburg, Pa.) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1, despite 14 saves in a stellar debut; her counterpart, senior Audrey Dolloff (Raynham, Mass.) had 8 saves to improve to 2-4 on the year.

AIC returns to action on September 23 as they visit Franklin Pierce University.