SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-Senior forward
Jenna Masionis (Ashland, Mass.) needed five points to break the school's scoring record. American International College field hockey needed a win. In one fell swoop, they got both, as Masionis scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and added an assist in a 3-2 win over the Franklin Pierce Ravens.
AIC improves to 6-6 overall and 2-3 in Northeast-10 play.
The Jackets controlled much of the first half, and broke through for a 1-0 lead as a scoop pass from freshman forward
Liv Magni (Sweet Valley, Pa.) came to Masionis in the circle, which she then fired high to the left for her eighth of the year at 9:49.
Less than ten minutes later, Masionis was the playmaker, taking the ball down the left wing and along the goal line, breaking into the circle before lifting a pass to a wide-open junior midfielder
Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) for a one-timer into the cage for her third of the year at 17:21.
The Ravens would not go quietly, striking back on a penalty corner at 21:05 as junior midfielder Chelsea Burnell (Porter, Maine) ripped a shot home for her second of the year, to make it 2-1.
Corners again haunted AIC in the second half as the Ravens tied the game, 2-2, at 36:48 on a shot through by junior midfielder Erin Trainor (Auburn, Mass.) for her first of the season.
However, neither team had any luck after that in regulation, as freshman Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) held strong for the Ravens and junior
Ainslee Penfield (Greenfield, Mass.) stayed behind the ball the rest of the way for the Jackets.
Penfield had the most impressive string of stops, making three saves in an eighteen second span on a penalty corner midway through the half, but Williams rejected back-to-back grade A chances herself with under fifteen to go as Masionis and McLean let shots go from close range.
With the two squads even through seventy, the teams entered the seven-versus-seven overtime, and it did not take long for the home squad to score, as a pass across by junior midfielder
Kaylin Harbin (Stroudsburg, Pa.) came to Masionis, who fired it five hole at 70:25 to break the college's points record previously held by Amanda McLean '12 with her eighty-fourth career point.
Head Coach Ashley Mazzoli had glowing words to say about her team's co-captain after the game.
"I cannot say enough about her commitment to AIC field hockey. Her tangible skills on and off the ball have allowed her to develop into one of the best attacking forwards in the NE-10 and her speed and skill elevates the play of those around her," the sixth-year coach, who helped recruit Masionis four years ago. "Jenna has been a work horse for the past four years on our forward line and models the best of intangible traits for her teammates as a senior co-captain," she added.
Penfield had seven saves to improve to 6-6 in net for the season.
AIC next heads to Southern New Hampshire University to battle the Penmen on Wednesday as they continue their quest for a Northeast-10 playoff berth.