STANDISH, ME – Senior forward Courtney Rague (Old Orchard Beach, ME) notched her fourth game-winning goal of the year with a marker just 1:26 into overtime to push Saint Joseph's (9-3, 4-0 GNAC) past Salem State (4-6, 2-4 LEC) in a non-conference field hockey match at Lakeside Field on Wednesday afternoon.

St. Joe's keeper Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) recorded six saves in the victory, while Salem netminder Jessica McKenna '11 (Rowley, MA) registered four stops for the visitors. The Vikings held a slim 8-7 lead in corners and both teams had 11 shots in the non-league meeting.

Monks sophomore Melanie Allen (Jackson, NH) kicked off the game scoring with a marker in the 13th minute off a Rachelle Messuri '14 (Atkinson, NH) feed. Although both teams had scoring opportunities, most of the game-play occurred in neutral territory until Vikings senior forward April Rossetti (Saugus, MA) scored off a corner at the 63:08 mark.

The Salem goal, assisted by Eryn Shea '13 (Spencer, MA), was initially called off as a dangerous shot, as the ball deflected off the face of SJC defender Brittany Locke '13 (Waterville, ME) before it found the back of the cage. The officials discussed the play and counted the goal, as Locke was deemed to be in net when the ball struck her.

The Monks took a pair of penalty corners late in regulation and Messuri steered a shot on target, but McKenna denied the bid and the game was destined for extra play.

But the overtime period wouldn't linger, as the Monks managed to score on their first opportunity to earn the hardfought triumph. After a scramble in front of the Salem goalmouth, Rague collected a loose ball and shot the sphere into the left corner of the cage to net her fourth winner of the year and second in as many games.

For Rague, the game-clinching tally was the seventh of her career and gives her eight goals on the season, which is a new career high for the senior standout. The recent North Atlantic Conference Player of the Week selection has seven goals, eight assists and 22 total points so far this season and has tallied 15 points in her last six contests, a span in which the Monks have posted a 5-1 record.

With the win, the Monks improve to 2-0 versus the Vikings in the history of the series. St. Joe's has proven to be very difficult to beat at Lakeside Field, as the Royal Blue has notched a remarkable 28-4 (.875) record on the home turf since the start of the 2007 campaign.

Since dropping a pair during a trip to New Jersey in mid-September, the Monks have won six of seven contests, including three straight over the last week.

Saint Joseph's will host Simmons College in a NAC tilt on Friday at 3:00 PM, while Salem State is set to host Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday at 12:00 PM.