WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore
Sarah Adamske (Windham, N.H.) scored her first goal of the season just over five minutes into overtime to lift Plymouth State University over the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 4-3, in a non-conference field hockey game at USH Athletics Complex on Wednesday evening.
The game started out as a defensive battle and remained that way for the entire first half. The hosts struck first to take an early 1-0 lead, but the Panthers answered back with less than five minutes remaining in the first when junior
Caroline Coleman (Conway, N.H.) notched her second goal in as many games to tie things at 1-1.
The goalies for both teams were fantastic in the second quarter to keep the low-scoring game tied at one. The second half began the same way with both cage-minders making key stops. PSU senior
Piper Sherbert (Freeport, Maine) made eight of her nine saves before the fourth quarter to keep the Blue Jays off the board.
The fourth quarter began with both teams finding their offensive rhythms, sparking a back-and-forth finish. The Blue Jays found the back of the net just over two minutes in to take the early lead. Less than two minutes later, sophomore
Abigale Bsullak (Poland, Maine) cashed in on her scoring opportunity to even the score at 2-2.
The Panthers took their first lead of the game less than two minutes later when graduate student
Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.) found the back of the cage to make it 3-2. The PSU lead didn't last long, though, as the hosts tied the game with less than three minutes remaining in regulation to set up the dramatic finish.
PSU kept its pressure on and was able to put the game away just over five minutes into the extra session when Adamske buried her first of the year to send the Panthers home with the win.
PSU jumps to 2-0, while the Blue Jays dip to 1-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Univ. of St. Joseph 3 (OT)
- Plymouth State (2-0)
- Univ. of St. Joseph (1-2)
How it Happened:
- The Blue Jays got on the board first just over five minutes into the contest.
- Coleman evened things up with 4:04 remaining in the first with her second of the season.
- Both goalies stood their ground to keep the score deadlocked at 1-1 to begin the second half.
- Sherbert made eight of her nine saves in the first three quarters, keeping the Panthers in the game.
- Both offenses came alive in the fourth quarter.
- St. Joseph took the lead, but Bsullak answered to tie things at 2-2 less than two minutes later.
- Salzillo put the Panthers in front with her first of the season, but the Blue Jays broke through to tie the game at 3-3 with less than three minutes left in regulation.
- Adamske finished the game off with her first of the season and the first overtime score of her young career to seal the win for PSU, 4-3.
By the Numbers:
- Salzillo finished with a goal and an assist.
- Bsullak notched her first of the year.
- Senior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) added two assists.
- Sherbert recorded nine saves on 13 shots on goal, finishing one shy of her career high for saves.
- PSU held an advantage in shots (28-15), shots on goal (18-13) and corners (14-3).
Up Next:
- PSU visits Roger Williams University on Saturday (Sept. 7) for a non-conference matchup with the Hawks at noon.
– 30 –
