Lewis' Hat Trick Leads Rutgers Past Georgetown
Oct 06 | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers field hockey team (5-9, 1-2 BIG EAST) got an important a 3-2, overtime victory over BIG EAST opponent Georgetown (4-7, 0-3 BIG EAST). Amy Lewis' (Hainesport, N.J.) hat trick gave the Scarlet Knights their first BIG EAST win in nearly two years.
Head coach Liz Tchou knew how important this win was for her team but also felt there were aspects of the game her team still needed to work on.
"It was huge that we won," she said. "Two years is too long. I was pretty disappointed, though, that we gave up a two goal lead with 10 minutes left. We did not come out of the time-out in the second half very strong and let them back in the game. We need to learn from this and from all our previous losses."
The first half was a defensive battle, as the first twenty minutes of play went by without a shot recorded by either team. With just under 10 minutes left in the half, RU's Kristen Johnson (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) fired the game's first shot which was saved by Georgetown goalie Deirdre Crovo. Then, with just 1:46 remaining in the half, Lewisscored her first goal to put the team ahead 1-0. The goal came following a penalty corner that was taken by Johnson.Johnson and Corinne Bach (Moorestown, N.J.) combined to assist on the goal.
Both teams came out fired-up to begin the second half of play. Lewis scored the team's second goal at the 56:08 mark. The goal was a near carbon copy of the first, as she scored after a corner taken by Johnson who again combined with Bach for the assists.
RU seemed to have the game in hand, but the Hoyas found their offensive momentum toward the end of the second half, scoring two goals within six minutes. RU goalie Rosalyn Wentko (Dallas, Pa.) saved a shot by Maggie Farrand, but teammate Alice Murnen was there to get the rebound and knock the ball into the goal to cut RU's lead to 2-1. Just six minutes later, Chelsea Aiken tied the game at two when she found the goal after a corner by Farrand as Farrand combined with Murnen for the assist. The two-goal lead Rutgers had enjoyed was gone, and the game headed into overtime.
After just over four minutes of play in overtime, Lewis took a penalty stroke that found the goal and gave her team the win. It was Lewis' third goal of the game, and she now leads the team with 17 goals on the season.
Bach, like Tchou, couldn't downplay the importance of the win.
"We're all really pumped because it's our first BIG EAST win in two years," she said. "To pull it out in the first couple of minutes overtime was a great feeling."
After the game, Lewis reflected back on the progress the team has made over the past several years.
"It was huge to get this win," Lewis said. "We still have some things to work on, but this game shows the hard work and dedication we've put into the sport the last couple of years."
The Scarlet Knights will now hit the road for two games, beginning with BIG EAST member Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 1:00 p.m., followed by Vermont on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 3:30 p.m.
Field Hockey Game Summary (Final)
2006 Rutgers Field Hockey
Rutgers vs. Georgetown (Oct. 6 at Piscataway, N.J.)
Rutgers (5-9, 1-2 BIG EAST) vs. Georgetown (4-7, 0-3 BIG EAST)
Date: Oct. 6, 2006 Attendance: 116
Goals by Period: 1 2 OT Tot
Georgetown 0 2 0 2
Rutgers 1 1 1 3
Scoring Summary:
Shots: GU - 3, RU - 10.
Saves: GU - 3, RU - 1.
Time Team Goal Assist(s)33:14 RU Lewis, Amy (15) Johnson, Kristen; Bach, Corinne
56:08 RU Lewis (16) Johnson, Kristen; Bach, Corinne
57:38 GU Murnen, Alice (2) (unassisted)
63:40 GU Aiken, Chelsea Farrand, Maggie; Murnen, Alice
