RINDGE, New Hampshire - Down a goal late, the American International College field hockey team surged to a 3-2 overtime victory against Franklin Pierce University in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both squads on Wednesday, September 8.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 3, Franklin Pierce 2 (F/OT)
Records: AIC improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in NE10 action, while the Ravens drop to 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in the NE10.
Location: Sodexo Field, Rindge, New Hampshire
KEY STATS:
Franklin Pierce:
Anna Beck: One goal
Christine Jarowicz: One goal
Mackenzie Potvin: Loss (0-2), two saves
AIC:
Logan Shunney: Two goals
Na'Bree Wallace: Game-winning OT goal
Nicole Mercadante: One assist
Shannon Cormier: One assist
Brooke Szafran: One assist
Jessica Stone: Win (3-1), two saves
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After a first frame that was not only scoreless but shotless, the Yellow Jackets put home the first bid of the game. Junior Shannon Cormier wired a feed into the circle to rookie Logan Shunney, who only had the goalkeeper to beat. The freshman made no mistake, flicking the ball past the right pad of Mackenzie Potvin for her first collegiate goal at 4:07 of the second.
- The Ravens countered, scoring on their first chance of the game as well. Feline van Doorn stole the ball inside AIC's defensive circle and fed Anna Beck, who took a reverse shot from the left into the cage at 9:41 to tie the contest.
- The home team took its first lead of the game early in the third. Beck fired a shot from the top of the circle that junior Jessica Stone saved, but the defense could not clear the rebound, and Christine Jarowicz hit it home at 4:13 to bring the score to 2-1.
- With time winding down in the fourth, the Yellow Jackets had been held without a shot through nearly the first 10 minutes of the frame. However, much like in the first, their one opportunity was cashed in. Junior Nicole Mercadante fired a cross-pass from the right side of the circle that eluded the Ravens defense, and Shunney was waiting at the back post for her second tally, tying the contest at 9:43.
- With numbers reduced to seven per side in the extra session, AIC's speed and skill took over. Freshman Brooke Szafran broke down the right side of the field, blowing past multiple defenders and then feeding a perfect pass just out of the reach of a sliding Potvin to junior Na'Bree Wallace, who popped in her third of the year and second game-winning tally at 3:57 of the overtime.
QUOTABLE:
- Szafran, who was selected by her teammates as the player of the game, was pleased with how her squad ramped up the effort when it meant the most, saying "The game was won with team effort and mental toughness. We started out a bit slow but once we all became hungry to win we played our best and pulled out a win in OT!"
- Shunney likewise praised the team's tenacity, saying "Being our conference opener, I went in knowing it was going to be a hard-fought game, setting the tone for the ones that follow. We went out there and showed Franklin Pierce what we have been working on since pre-season and capitalized on the opportunities we were given. Overall, I'm very proud of the team. We fought the entire time, and in the end I know we wanted it more and that's why we came out on top."
- Assistant Coach Katelynn Leclerc '20 echoed the players. She noted "We played with a lot of determination as a team to come from behind and tie the game, and kept the momentum going into overtime. We knew FPU was going to play hard, but we really showed a lot of character in this victory. I'm proud of the total team effort that took place on the field."
SHANNON SCOR-MIER:
- Cormier is tied with Wallace for the team's lead with six points in four games.
- She has either scored or set up the tying or winning goal in each of AIC's three victories this season.
NEXT UP:
- The Yellow Jackets visit Molloy College for a noon start on Saturday, September 11 in Northeast-10 Conference play.
