PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior
Jen Newick (Lee, N.H.) scored her first goal of the season and graduate student
Mackenzie Labrie (Canaan, N.H.) notched her third of the year, but it wasn't enough as Johnson & Wales University rallied from a 2-0 deficit to top the Panthers, 3-2, in overtime in a non-conference field hockey game at Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex on Tuesday evening.
The Panthers got off to a hot start when Newick notched her first of the season midway through the first quarter to take the early 1-0 lead. Labrie doubled the advantage in the dying seconds of the first quarter when she converted on a penalty corner as time expired for the 2-0 lead.
Graduate student
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) was outstanding in the second quarter, stopping four great scoring chances by the Wildcats. The hosts were able to convert in the late stages of the second quarter, but PSU maintained the lead, 2-1 going into halftime.
JWU came out of the break firing, keeping Antonucci and the Panthers' defense under siege. Antonucci made six of her 13 saves in the third quarter alone, preserving the Panthers' lead as the game headed into the final frame.
Early in the fourth, the Wildcats pulled even when they fired a shot off a penalty corner that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. Antonucci stood tall for the remainder of regulation as the game headed to OT deadlocked at 2-2.
The Panthers had a great look early in the extra frame, but the ball hopped over the forward's stick and was cleared out of harm's way. JWU fired two point-blank chances on Antonucci, but she was equal to the task, turning both aside to keep the Panthers alive. Moments later, the Wildcats fired a shot that deflected high out of Antonucci's reach and into the back of the cage for the OT win.
Plymouth State dips to 3-3, while the Wildcats improve to 5-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Johnson & Wales 3 (OT)
- Plymouth State (3-3)
- Johnson & Wales (5-3)
How it Happened:
- Newick scored her first of the season midway through the first quarter for a 1-0 lead.
- Labrie doubled the advantage with her third of the season as time expired in the first.
- Antonucci and the Panthers' defense shined in the second quarter, turning away glorious JWU scoring opportunities.
- The hosts cut into the deficit with less than five minutes to go in the half.
- PSU maintained the 2-1 lead moving into the third quarter.
- Antonucci and the PSU defense stole the show in the third quarter, turning away six Wildcats' shots on goal.
- JWU tied things early in the fourth quarter.
- Antonucci made one more big save, forcing the extra session.
- PSU had a great look in the early stages of overtime, but the ball took a bad hop over the attacker's stick and was cleared away.
- JWU had two point-blank chances that were stopped by Antonucci.
- Moments later the Wildcats fired a shot from the shooting arc that was deflected off a Panther defender's stick and over Antonucci's reach to secure the 3-2 win.
By the Numbers:
- Newick scored her first of the season, while Labrie's goal was her third of the campaign.
- Sophomore Sarah Adamske (Windham, N.H.) added an assist.
- Antonucci finished with a season-high 13 saves.
- Plymouth State won the only other meeting between the two teams – a 2-1 decision in the season opener at the 2019 University of Southern Maine Invitational.
Up Next:
- PSU heads to New England College on Thursday (Sept. 26) for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference tilt with the Pilgrims.
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