Field Hockey Falls to Clark in Final Seconds of OT, 3-2

Clark, Daigneault score a goal a piece in setback

The Western New England field hockey team was bested in overtime by Clark University on Saturday evening at Golden Bear Stadium, 3-2.

Top Performers

Senior captain Jaqueline Clark (Auburn, Mass.) and junior forward Haley Daigneault (Longmeadow, Mass.) led the scoring attack for the Golden Bears, each finishing with a goal. Freshman keeper Lexie Hemstock (Cheshire, Conn.)  faced nine shots on goal and collected six saves.

The Cougars were carried by sophomore goalkeeper Grace Sawyer (Windham, Maine), who collected 17 saves on the evening. Offensively, they were paced by junior forward Chase Collier (Lisbon, Maine), while freshman forward Kerry Lefebvre added the game-winner in OT.

Game Review

Clark set the tempo from the starting with a Collier goal within the first minute of play to take the lead at 1-0. Right about half way through the first period, the Golden Bears responded with an equalizer. Sophomore forward Ali Larochelle (New Boston, N.H.)  picked up a pass and advanced the ball down the field and found a cutting Daigneault, who scooped up the pass with her stick and rifled it into the upper corner of the cage to even the score at 1-1. Before the end of the period, Daigneault had another opportunity to take the lead, but Sawyer defended the Cougar cage.

The Clark offense opened up the second period strong again off the stick off Collier. At the 15:30 mark, Hemstock saved a shot by freshman forward Abigail Cravinho (Bellow Falls, Vt.), but Collier was there to pick up the deflected save and punch it in for the Clark lead at 2-1. The Golden Bears attacked the cage three times, but Sawyer was there for a couple more saves.

To open up the second half, Clark was the recipient of a deflected pass and guided it in to the right side of the cage unassisted to the tie the game at 2-2.

The Golden Bears controlled the offense in the third period, but Sawyer was a wall in the cage, securing six saves in the period.

In the fourth period, neither team could capitalize forcing overtime.

In overtime, the Golden bears remained aggressive on offense with shots coming from Clark, Daigneault, and senior midfielder Jess Clifford (Auburn, Mass.). Sawyer saved seven shots in the period. With five seconds remaining, Lefebvre snuck the game-winner past Hemstock on a one-on-one matchup. The ball just slid by Hemstock and pushed the lead to 3-2, which would prove to be the final score.

Notes

Western New England outshot Clark, 27-11.

Clark leads the team in points thus far with eight.

Up Next

Western New England (2-1) will host Westfield State on Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00. Clark (2-2) will travel to Anna Maria for a 4pm matchup.