SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Freshman Meghan Largo (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) netted a pair of goals including the overtime game-winner in the 73 rd minute as American international defeated Saint Anselm, 3-2, in Northeast-10 field hockey action this evening from Abdow Field.
With the win the Yellow Jackets improve to 11-7 on the year and 7-4 in conference play. AIC solidifies the number four seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Championship and will host #5 Assumption at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday right here at Abdow Field.
Saint Anselm finishes their season witn an 8-9 record overall and a 3-8 league mark.
The Hawks jumped out to the early 1-0 advantage after freshman Emma Kincaid (West Bridgewater, Mass.) put back a rebounded shot from junior Colleen Sears (Danvers, Mass.) in the 12th minute.
After a slow start for the Yellow Jackets without much offensive pressure they turned things up to finally grab the tying score and tilt the game in their favor headed into the intermission.
Senior Jenna Masionis (Ashland, Mass.) found sophomore Emma Heroth (Johnstown, N.Y.) in the front of the net but her shot was stonewalled by Saint Anselm sophomore goalkeeper Katherine Sears (Northboro, Mass.) in the 27th minute.
However, AIC was able to maintain possession in the offensive end and less than one minute later Masionis again found Heroth and this time the sophomore was able to finish after some fancy moves through the circle for the 1-1 tie.
American International then grabbed the 2-1 lead with no time remaining in the half during a penalty corner when Heroth found Largo for the lifted finish from the bottom of the circle.
It was the Hawks who somehow shifted the momentum coming out of the break as Colleen Sears ripped home a rebound after junior Ainslee Penfield (Greenfield, Mass.) stuffed freshman Allia Connolly's (Westford, Mass.) initial attempt in the 43rd minute for the 2-2 score.
The Yellow Jackets then controlled the final 25 minutes of regulation sending shot after shot toward the cage, but to no avail.
In the 63rd minute AIC made a bid for the lead when junior Kaylin Harbin (Stroudsburg, Pa.) sent a beautiful pass to classmate Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) but her attempt was turned aside by Hawk sophomore net-minder Katherine Sears (Northboro, Mass.) preserving the tie and eventually sending the game into extra time.
So far this season AIC has dominated the overtime periods as they are 3-0 in overtime and tonight was no different. After an initial flurry of possession in the offensive circle by the Hawks, the Jackets gained possession and worked the ball down the field.
It was Masionis who was able to corral a blast during a penalty corner by junior Emily Kollar (Leighton, Pa.) inside the circle. Masionis backed off her defender causing the goalie to come out of the cage, she then dished a pass to the left for Largo who deposited the ball into the empty net just 2:16 into overtime for the 3-2 victory.
Penfield made seven stops in the victory to improve to 11-7 while Katherine Sears stopped nine shots and saw her record fall to 8-9 in the defeat.
AIC outshot the visitors 26-12 including a 12-9 mark on goal and also dominated the penalty corners with a 22-3 edge.
Before the game Masionis and senior classmates Jacqueline Millard (Nassau, N.Y.) and Amanda Johannes (Killingworth, Conn.) were honored in a brief pregame ceremony for playing in their final regular season home game of their career during senior day.
