MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Elizabeth Sears (Danvers, Mass.) registered a goal and an assist, but the Saint Anselm College field hockey team was edged 3-2 in overtime by Adelphi University on Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
The Hawks, who were 3-2 winners in OT against Franklin Pierce at home Tuesday, sink to 2-3, while the Panthers improve to 3-2.
Tied at two just 3:00 into the extra session, Adelphi potted the game winner as Mary Plotas collected a pass in the middle of the circle from Molly Cuevas and sent a reverse stick shot past sophomore goalkeeper Shauna Whittemore (Bennington, N.H.) and into the middle of the cage.
Whittemore stopped nine shots for the Hawks, while Adelphi goalkeeper Kelly Serrao made four saves. The Panthers held a 2-0 advantage in shots in the OT period after they were even at 13 apiece through regulation.
Saint Anselm jumped on the board first 13:29 into the contest when freshman Kelsey Leblanc (Londonderry, N.H.) picked up her first collegiate goal. Sears slid the ball from the top of the circle into the middle where Leblanc swept it around Serrao and into the left side of the net.
The game stayed that way through halftime and into the second stanza until Plotas picked up a rebound after her own shot was saved and sent a shot into the left side of the net to knot things at one just 44 seconds in.
Sears put the home team back in front 5:45 later when sophomore Canada Stewart (Derry, N.H.) sent a pass from the left that Sears corralled in the middle and then rifled a high shot that snuck into the right side of the cage to make it 2-1.
The Panthers gained the equalizer with 14:12 on the clock when Cuevas' shot was blocked away by Whittemore and the ball rolled to Lena Pollich, whose high shot went into the right side of the net.
Adelphi held a 25-10 advantage in penalty corners.
The Hawks return to action Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. when they play host to Assumption College under the lights at Grappone. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
