FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College field hockey team was unable to clinch a spot in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championships against #17 Stevenson University, falling 2-1 in overtime.
Inside the Box Score
Sydney Fleming (Fredericksburg, Va./Courtland) scored the Blazers' lone goal, with
Ellie Dainton (Mays Landing, NJ./Saint Joseph Academy) assisting.
Grace Guy (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon) made 12 saves in the loss.
Abby Chiavetta (San Jose, Calif./Leland) had two defensive saves.
How it Happened
Stevenson started the game hot, stretching Hood's defense and getting plenty of shots off, but Guy and the defense were up to task, blocking and saving everything that came their way to keep the game scoreless after the first quarter.
Coming out into the second quarter, it seemed like the Blazers were just resting, bursting into the Mustangs' zone and earning a penalty corner just a few minutes into the period. Dainton then received
Sydney Fleming's (Fredericksburg, Va./Courtland) pass and stickhandled around two defenders before sending a ball towards the net. After looking like it was going wide, Fleming herself broke past her defender and deflected it into the back of the net to give Hood a 1-0 lead.
It was clear Stevenson was upset with giving up the first goal, keeping the ball in the Blazers' end for the rest of the half and sending shot after shot towards the net, but Guy turned into a brick wall to stop everything sent towards her and keeping the one-goal lead heading into halftime.
The Mustangs picked up right where they left off, forcing Chiavette to make back-to-back defensive saves before one finally got past everyone and rolled in to tie the game. More great defensive play eventually led to a breakout from Hood that saw
Kate Haufe (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) have a one on one with the goaltender to take the lead, but her shot just hit the outside of the post to keep the game knotted at one heading into the final frame.
More defensive efforts from the Blazers helped set the team up offensively, drawing five penalty corners with less than four minutes in regulation, but none of their shots got to the goalie before the buzzer sounded to send the game to overtime.
Overtime would not last long though, as Gracyn Catalano was able to just get around the Hood defender on her and send a backhanded shot just over Guy to hand the Blazers a 2-1 loss.
For the Opponent
Catalano scored both goals for the Mustangs.
Jordan Vradenburgh made one save in the win.
Analysis
Stevenson outshot Hood 25-9.
The Mustangs had nine penalty corners to the Blazers' seven.
Hood had the only green card in the game.
Notes
The Blazers drop to 8-9 (3-3), while the Mustangs improve to 16-2 (5-1).
Up Next
Hood must win its final game against MAC Commonwealth opponent Alvernia University at home Saturday, November 1 at 2 p.m. to qualify for the conference playoffs.
