STANDISH, ME - Skye Ellis '11 (Belfast, ME) scored a game-tying goal off a penalty corner with no time remaining in regulation and fourth-seeded Husson University (8-7, 4-3 NAC) won a stroke-off, 3-2, after two scoreless overtime periods to earn a 2-1 upset victory and deter #1 Saint Joseph's College (14-4, 7-0 NAC) in a North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey Semifinal match on Wednesday afternoon.
With 0:00 showing on the clock, Eagles forward Courtney Allen '11 (Gardiner, ME) sent a penalty corner pass from the right side into a cluster of green and white. Ellis managed to gain control of the ball and punched it past SJC goalie Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) to the left corner of the net, sending the game to overtime. Per NCAA rules, the game shall be prolonged to permit the completion of a penalty corner at halftime and fulltime.
In the deciding frame, neither team scored on their first stroke-off attempts, but the tally was set at 2-2 after both weary clubs managed to convert their shots in the second and third rounds. In the fourth round, Husson defender Caroline Bochtler '12 (Turner, ME) scored on a shot off Johnson's blocker, while an attempt by SJC midfielder Jaimee Brett '10 (Otisfield, ME) was kicked away by Husson keeper Kristen Capen '13 (Leeds, ME). Leading 3-2 with one round remaining, Husson's Lorri Hiltz '12 (Norridgewock, ME) sealed the victory for the Eagles with a high shot to the left side.
Julia Ostrowski '10 (Albany, NY) seemed to have scored the game-winner when she notched her 18th marker of the year in the first minute of the second stanza. Alyssa Dunn '11 (Standish, ME) set up the play with a lead pass to the middle of the circle and Ostrowski finished with a score to the right side of the net. Unfortunately for the Royal Blue faithful, Husson netted the actual game-clincher over 70 minutes later.
Husson came close to knotting the game in the 51st minute on a Hiltz penalty shot attempt, but the sophomore was stonewalled by Johnson to preserve the 1-0 advantage.
Following regulation, the teams played two 15-minute periods of 7-on-7 play. SJC forward Kayla Nowell '11 (Bridgton, ME) nearly ended the match for the Monks on a point-blank attempt in the 12th minute of the second OT period, but Capen kicked the shot away.
Husson keeper Capen made 12 saves, not including a pair of pressure-packed stops in the SO round, in the triumph and SJC goalie Johnson recorded 9 stops in the 100-minute battle.
Husson will play at third-seeded University of Maine-Farmington on Saturday in the NAC Championship, start time TBA.
Husson University (8-7) vs. St. Joseph's (Me.) (14-4)
Date: Nov 04, 2009 Attendance: 175
Weather:
Goals by period 1 2 OT O2
SO Tot
----------------------------------------
Husson University... 0 1 0 0 1
- 2
St. Joseph's (Me.).. 0 1 0 0 0
- 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 35:47 SJMFH Julia Ostrowski (Alyssa Dunn)
2. 70:00 HUS Skye Ellis (unassisted) - corner played
after time ran out, goal scored
3. 100:00 HUS TEAM Stroke-off
STROKE-OFF RESULTS:
Husson University: 23/N 8/Y 3/Y 44/Y TE/GWG
St. Joseph's (Me.): 21/N 9/Y 23/Y 17/N
Husson University wins shootout 3-2
Shots: Husson University 11, St. Joseph's (Me.) 19
Saves: Husson University 12 (Kristen Capen 12), St. Joseph's (Me.)
10
(Meaghan Johnson 9; TEAM 1)
NAC Semifinal
