NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Husson University women's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision to Emerson College on Friday afternoon at Kelsey Field in its season-opener.

The Eagles (0-1) struck early pressure as senior Devon St. Louis rattled the crossbar just two minutes into the match. Emerson (1-0) opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Kate Baldock finished a set piece to give the Lions a 1-0 advantage. Husson responded quickly, leveling the match in the 24th minute. Freshman Jaquie Pangburn played a perfectly timed ball through to St. Louis, who buried her first goal of the season to tie things at 1-1.

Emerson regained control before halftime with back-to-back goals from Linae Bezdek in the 34th minute and Carmen Talavera in the 38th, giving the Lions a 3-1 lead at the break.

Husson worked to cut into the deficit after halftime, earning back-to-back corners in the 62nd minute and testing the Emerson goalkeeper on a pair of chances from sophomore Paige Dunn, but the Eagles couldn't find a breakthrough. Freshman goalkeeper Gabriella Smith kept Husson in the contest with four saves, including key stops in the 78th and 79th minutes.

The Lions added a late insurance goal in the 86th minute when Tatum Cohen converted off a corner to set the final score at 4-1.

Smith finished with four saves in net for the Eagles, while Dunn registered two shots off the bench. St. Louis' first-half tally stood as Husson's lone goal on the afternoon.

Husson will conclude play at Colby-Sawyer College in the finale of the two-day event against the Chargers at 2 p.m.