MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Maggie Burchill fired in the game-winning goal with 1:43 to play in the second overtime to secure the third Northeast 10 Conference Championship for the Saint Anselm College field hockey team, as the Hawks defeated Bentley 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.

Burchill was named the Most Outstanding Player of the postseason, as she posted the game-tying and game-winning goals to clinch the title for the Hawks. Joining her on the All-Championship Team were junior Laurentien van den Akker and senior Millie Forster.

Saint Anselm has now won 13 consecutive games against Bentley dating back to Oct. 7, 2015.

Highlights

• Burchill scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals, coming late in the third quarter and deep into double overtime, as classmate Marissa Politano scored the Hawks' first goal in the opening quarter.
• Junior Laurentien van den Akker and freshman Audrey Payeur each registered assists in the win.
• Junior goalie Mackenzie Wehrum made three saves in her 14th victory of the season.
• Saint Anselm outshot Bentley, 13-6, and also owned a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal. The Falcons defenders compiled four defensive saves while Annie Lorenz made three stops in net.
• Saint Anselm held a 16-7 advantage in penalty corners.

How it Happened

Bentley took an early lead on a goal by McKenzie Carey just 6:37 into the first quarter. The Hawks responded less than two minutes later as senior Marissa Politano tipped in a shot from the top of the circle from van den Akker to even the score.

The Falcons held a 2-1 lead at halftime as Gracie Moore scored 5:05 into the second frame to put the visitors on top at the break.

Saint Anselm put the pressure on in the third quarter, earning nine corners and firing seven shots. Bentley's Avery Frommer made four total defensive saves in the period before Burchill finally broke through on an unassisted goal with 1:40 left in the third to tie the game up at 2-2.

Neither team was able to register a shot in the fourth quarter, despite a penalty corner being awarded each way, sending the game to sudden-death overtime.

Junior Mackenzie Wehrum denied a shot 3:20 into the extra time on a Bentley corner. Saint Anselm was rejected on both of its corner tries, with both shots on net being saved by Annie Lorenz, sending the game to double overtime.

Despite a pair of corner chances in the opening 2:15 of the sixth period, Bentley was only able to get one shot off that was saved by Wehrum. Saint Anselm was awarded its first of two corners with just under two minutes remaining before penalty strokes. On the Hawks' second corner, freshman Audrey Payeur recovered a loose ball and slid it to Burchill whose shot went through the legs of Lorenz and in for the game-winning tally, clinching Saint Anselm's eighth all-time NCAA Championship appearance.

Up Next

The Hawks have earned the NE10's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championship and will learn their seeding status in tonight's selection show, set to begin at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.