Rutgers Defeats Cornell in Overtime
Sep 16 | Field Hockey
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Rutgers field hockey team posted its fifth win of the season on Sunday afternoon, besting Cornell 1-0 in overtime.
Junior Amy Lewis (Hainesport, N.J.) scored the game's lone goal, off a pass from senior Cat Badolato (Berlin, N.J.) in the 82nd minute. The goal was Lewis' team-leading tenth of the fall.
'I was impressed by the leadership from our captains, Cat Badolato, Corinne Bach and Caitlin Browne. They prepared and motivatedthe team well throughout the week and into the long weekend,' said head coach Liz Tchou. 'We were prepared to compete. We played hard and we are an improved team.'
Both teams had opportunities to score throughout the game. Less than 10 minutes into the contest, the Scarlet Knights earned the lone penalty corner of the half. Lewis sent a hard shot towards the corner of the Cornell goal, where it was stopped by sophomore defender Natalie Appleton. Just over four minutes later, Appleton had another stop, again coming from Lewis.
Fast forward to second half and with less than eight minutes to play in regulation, the Scarlet Knights had a chance to end the game. Badolato slipped past her opponents and streaked towards the goal. Cornell goalie Lizzie Goldblatt came off her line and Badolato got a shot off, but the angle proved too difficult to find the empty cage.
The game-winner proved to be a similar play, as Badolato stole the ball near midfield. She was able to get past her Cornell defender. As Goldblatt came out of net to play the ball, Badolato slipped a pass to Lewis, who one-timed it into the empty net.
The RU defense was led by senior Rosalyn Wentko (Dallas, Pa.) who had a season-best eight saves on the afternoon. For the second straight game, the Scarlet Knights posted an advantage in shots (15-13) and penalty corners (7-5).
Rutgers jumps back into BIG EAST play on Friday, entertaining Villanova on Friday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m.
