10/06/2007
Field Hockey Overtaken by WPI in OT, 3-2

WORCESTER, MASS. 10/06/07 - Sophomore Jackie McDonough’s (Winchester, Mass.) goal just over three minutes into the first overtime lifted the WPI field hockey team to a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Clark University in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday at Granger Field.

Clark (5-6, 0-3 NEWMAC) held a 2-1 edge until the final seconds of the game. As time expired, WPI’s Sarah Tracy (Oakland, Me.) took a penalty corner and got back in play to drill an open cage equalizer sending the game into overtime.

In the sudden-death extra session, the Engineers took possession with three shots on goal - two stopped at close range by Clark goalie Kathryn Dawsey (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and the game-winner - and two penalty corners. Tracy, taking the corner, pushed the ball to Nicole Maglione (Charlton, Mass.) who one-timed a hard shot that was re-directed by McDonough over the Clark keeper’s head for the game-winner in the 74th minute.

The first 15 minutes of the game was a back and forth battle between the two teams with limited chances on both sides. First-year Meghan Linksey (Bridgewater, Mass.) had an early opportunity for WPI, but her bid was kicked out by Clark’s Dawsey at 10:04.

The Cougars finally got on the board after sophomore Chelsea Proulx (Franklin, N.H.) found first-year Sasha Burgess (Chelmsford, Mass.) in front for a 1-0 lead at the 9:26 mark. Clark was awarded a penalty stroke when Proulx got taken down in the circle on a breakaway just 16 seconds later. Junior Madeleine Henefield (Pelham, Mass.) lifted the ball to the top left side of the cage for a two-goal halftime advantage.

WPI (6-7, 1-3 NEWMAC) picked up the offensive pressure in the second frame. A pair of shots from Stacey Mohr (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Sarah White (Portland, Me.) were stopped on Brooke Osgood’s (Clifton Park, N.Y.) defensive save and a kick save from Dawsey, respectively, just two minutes in. The Engineers cut the deficit in half (1-2) after Maggie Elbag (Rutland, Mass.) deflected a shot in the upper corner of the cage in the 49th minute.

WPI netted two more goals within a 3:56 span to secure the victory.

Dawsey had 16 stops in goal for Clark. Besty Ray (Simsbury, Conn.) made one save for WPI.

Clark will travel to Wheaton College on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. tilt, while WPI will host Springfield College that same day at 7 p.m.