Field Hockey Dumps Smith in OT Thriller, 2-1
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (Oct. 6, 2009) – Sophomore forward Shara Robertson converted a penalty stroke in overtime to push the Mount Holyoke College field hockey team to a thrilling 2-1 triumph over longtime rival Smith College this evening at the Williston Northampton School. It was the Lyons first victory over a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe this season and their eighth straight win over the Pioneers.
Following a scoreless first half, Mount Holyoke took advantage of a penalty corner opportunity to grab a 1-0 edge just 2:16 into the second stanza. Smith senior goalkeeper Margaret Winter made the initial save on the play, but Lyons senior forward Mary Kate Switchenko found the loose ball and deposited it into the back of the cage for her third tally of the season.
The Pioneers battled back to even things at one goal apiece in the 56th minute, when senior defender Kaitlyn Murdough scored off a penalty corner feed from sophomore midfielder Emily Howe\.
Both offenses were silenced for the remainder of regulation, sending the contest to overtime. In the tenth minute of the extra session, a scrum in front of the Smith cage led to a penalty stroke opportunity for the Lyons. Robertson then calmly stepped to the line and ripped a shot past Winter to seal things. It was her team leading seventh goal of the 2009 campaign.
Mount Holyoke outshot the Pioneers 23-5, including 3-0 in the overtime period. The Lyons also finished with a large edge in penalty corner chances (13-2). Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Gibson needed to make just one save to claim her fifth win of the year. Meanwhile, Winter turned away 15 shots in a losing effort for Smith (3-6, 0-3 NEWMAC).
Mount Holyoke (5-4, 1-2 NEWMAC) will resume its home slate on Saturday, when it hosts league foe WPI at 1:00 p.m.