Cara Jordan scored her first goal of the season. (Photo courtesy of Clarus Studios.)

MEDWAY, Mass. – On the strength of three first-half goals and a key penalty save by goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan, the Connecticut Fusion earned a 4-1 road win over Scorpions SC in United Women’s Soccer action Friday evening.

The Fusion scored the opener in the 12th minute when Chanel Johnson unlocked the Scorpions’ back line with a well-weighted through ball down the left flank to Cara Jordan. The University of Connecticut product ran to the end line and sent a ball across the box to Tori Sousa, who easily tapped home her second goal of the season.

The goal came against the run of play as the Scorpions kept the Fusion pinned deep in its defensive third for the opening 10 minutes. But a quick counter attack and some nifty, one-touch passing allowed the opportunity to develop.

The hosts netted a near-instant equalizer just 21 seconds after the re-start. Jenna Bike’s cross from the left flank took a deflection right into the path of Alexandria Giovino, who powered home her header into an empty net.

In the 35th minute, Fusion right back Brenna Brown whipped in a cross that was punched away by Scorpions keeper Kayla Thompson. The ball fell to Jordan. She tried to half-volley the rebound, only to see it cleared off the line. Jordan wrestled back possession and laid off a pass to the corner of the area to an open Tiffany Weimer. The recently named UWS Offensive Player of the Week, who netted a hat-trick last Saturday against the Albany Rush, added to her 2021 goal tally by lashing a rocket to the upper corner, giving the Fusion a 2-1 lead.

The Fusion added its third goal in the 41st minute as Weimer let a shot fly from 25 yards that was parried right into the path of Jordan, who tucked away the rebound for her first goal of the season.

The Scorpions were handed a lifeline in the 64th minute when Brenna Brown committed a foul inside the box. But McQuillan dove to her left to smother Kristi Vierra’s spot kick and preserved the Fusion’s two-goal lead.

The visitors wrapped up the scoring with a Chanel Johnson right-footed volley to the top corner in the 68th minute.

The Fusion return home to the Farmington Sports Arena Saturday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. to welcome in local rival New England Mutiny.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.