RU Tops Monmouth, 4-3, in OT Thriller
Oct 09 | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 9, 2013) - The Rutgers field hockey team edged in-state rival Monmouth Wednesday afternoon at the Bauer Track and Field Complex, where an overtime goal by freshman Rachel Yaney (Bridgewater, N.J.) gave the Scarlet Knights a 4-3 victory. Yaney scored twice in the contest, with junior Sophie Wright (Devizes, United Kingdom) and sophomore Katie Champion (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) also notching goals in the victory.
Freshman goalie Shevaun Hayes (Melbourne, Australia) made a pair of saves in the contest and improved to 4-2 on the season.
Monmouth's Alex Carroll knotted the match up at 3-3 late in the second half on the Hawks' third penalty corner of the contest. Alyssa Ercolino sent the corner in, finding Carroll who wound up from the top of the circle and found the back on the net.
RU (7-5, 1-2) took a 3-2 lead early in second half, as Yaney worked her way into the circle and into an open lane before finishing in the left corner of the cage. It was the Scarlet Knights' second consecutive goal after Champion brought the game back to a tie in the waning moments of the first half.
Goals were scored by both teams in the final minute of the opening period, with the Hawks (3-8, 0-0) striking first at the 34:21 mark to take a 2-1 lead. Champion answered the bell not long after the restart, getting behind the Monmouth defense and flipping the ball into the back left with 22 seconds remaining in the half.
Wright got the scoring going for the Scarlet Knights in the 22nd minute of regulation, connecting on a feed from senior Lisa Patrone (Washington Township, N.J.) for 1-0 lead. Monmouth responded by knocking in the next two goals to force a 2-2 tie at the half, despite Rutgers outshooting the Hawks, 13-3, in the opening stanza.
Rutgers continues its two-game homestand with BIG EAST foe Georgetown on Saturday at the Bauer Track and Field Complex. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. and marks "Senior Day" and "Fan Appreciation Day."
The Scarlet Knights will honor their six seniors - Kaitlyn Plouse (Hummelstown, Pa.), Emily Strong (Medford, N.J.), Sarah Stuby (Roxbury, N.J.), Danielle Freshnock (Middletown, N.J.), Patrone and Laura Rose (Washington Township, N.J.) -- prior to the match.
RU fans are also encouraged to stick around for a post-match autograph session with the squad.
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