PURCHASE, N.Y. – It took overtime and an extended weather delay after the conclusion of the fourth quarter to decide the contest, but when all was said and done on GoValiants.com Field on Monday evening, the Manhattanville College field hockey team walked off as winners. An overtime goal off the stick of
Ava Panzer (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) lifted the Valiants to a 3-2 victory over the University of Saint Joseph. With the win, the Valiants improve to 2-5 on the season.
With the game even at 2-2 following the conclusion of the fourth quarter, the weather turned ugly as an ensuing thunderstorm sent both teams into the locker room for an extended break. Just over half an hour later, the squads returned to crown a winner. The extra time to draw up some plays worked in the favor of Manhattanville, as it took just 98 seconds into the overtime period for Panzer to find an opening on a sharp-angled try from the left side of the cage, beating Blue Jay netminder Wendy Bowden to secure the win for the Valiants in their home opener.
Despite Manhattanville outshooting Saint Joseph 25-17 in the contest, it was the Blue Jays that struck first. After a scoreless first quarter, the Blue Jays were awarded a penalty stroke after being fouled on a shot attempt. McKenna Gibson capitalized on the opportunity, firing the shot past
Florence Harrison (Melbourne, Australia/Balwyn High School) to put the visitors up 1-0.
Six minutes later, the Valiants mounted their response. After her record-setting performance last week, the Atlantic East Player of the Week
Abbey Playle (Reading, England/Leigh High School) continued her incredible hot streak with her ninth goal of the season, receiving an assist from Panzer off a penalty corner. Playle's goal in the 26
th minute sent the game into the half tied 1-1.
It would be Playle making the play once again in the third, putting the Valiants ahead for the first time on the night in the 34
th minute. The lead would unfortunately not stick, as Isabella Pelletier cleaned up a loose ball rebound off a save by Harrison to tie the game back at 2-2 in the 38
th minute.
Harrison bounced back nicely in the fourth, stopping all three shots on net in the final 15 minutes to send the game to overtime. In all, the sophomore made seven saves to pick up her second win of the season. Harrison now has 43 saves along with a 3.48 goals against average on the season.
It was quick work in the overtime, as the Valiants earned an early penalty corner opportunity. While the first shot attempt of the period by
Alyssa Monahan (East Fishkill, NY/John Jay High School) went wide, Panzer capitalized on the team's second look of OT to bury the game winner, her fifth goal of the year.
The Valiants held a 16-9 advantage in penalty corners in the contest. Blue Jay goalkeeper Bowden ended the night with 10 saves, while her teammates in front of her combined for four total defensive saves.
Up Next
Now riding a two-game win streak, the Valiants remain at home next Thursday, Sept. 29, to host Albertus Magnus at 7 p.m.
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