STANDISH, ME – Junior forward Alexandra Parese (Wilton, CT) scored an 89th-minute marker to left Endicott College (10-6, 4-3 TCCC) past Saint Joseph's (10-4, 5-0 NAC), 2-1, in a double-overtime non-conference field hockey match at Lakeside Field on Wednesday afternoon.
With the game tied at 1-1 after regulation, the regional opponents continued to duel as the score remained at a stalemate after the first 15 minute overtime frame. The match would end 3:20 into the second extra period, however, as Parese, who was sprung free by a Taylor Matties '13 (Saratoga Springs, NY) pass, rushed beyond the Monks' defense and beat SJC netminder Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) with the game-clinching goal.
Joanne Reid '11 (Clarksville, MD) kicked off the game scoring for the Gulls with a tally at the 18:47 mark. Parese set up the score with a pass to the top of the line and Reid finished the play with a shot to the center of the cage.
St. Joe's senior forward Kayla Nowell (Bridgton, ME) made it a 1-1 less than four minutes later with a marker off an Alyssa Dunn '11 (Standish, ME) feed. With the goal, Nowell became the program's all-time leader in points with 133 in her outstanding career. She surpasses former teammate Julia Ostrowski '10, who netted 131 points in four seasons for the Monks.
The match appeared to be on pace for on offensive battle after the teams combined for a pair of tallies in less than four minutes of play, but as it turned out neither squad would score for over 66 minutes.
The Monks had several excellent opportunities to end the game in the first overtime period. Taking advantage of the seven-on-seven play, Sarah Bartell '12 (Exeter, NH) sidestepped a defender and steered a pair of point-blank shots towards Endicott keeper Taylor Teixeira '13 (Exeter, NH), but both attempts were turned away. Seconds later, Courtney Rague '11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME) collected a rebound after the second Bartell shot and narrowly missed an open net.
Bartell had another close scoring chance with 2:03 left in the initial extra frame, but a shot off a breakaway was sent wide as Teixeira left the net to challenge on the play.
St. Joe's held an advantage in shots (16-12), while Endicott earned a 19-5 edge in penalty corners in the non-league match. Both teams steered nine shots on target.
Johnson made seven saves for the hosts while Teixeira posted eight stops in net for the visitors.
The loss drops the Monks to 3-10 in the history of the matchup against the Gulls.
Both squads will resume conference play on the road this Saturday, as Saint Joseph's will travel to Thomas College for an 11:00 AM game, while Endicott is slated to play at TCCC foe New England College at 1:00 PM.
