Springfield, MA ---
Madeline Chase (Danvers, MA) converted the decisive shootout attempt and
Myles Lakin (Reading, MA) stopped four of Springfield's attempts, liftingWPI to a dramatic 1-0 victory over the host Pride in a NEWMAC field hockey contest played Saturday morning at Stagg Field.
The Engineers improve to 4-5 overall and 2-0 in NEWMAC play with the victory, while Springfield falls to 5-3 on the season and 1-1 in league action. The teams battled through 60 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute sudden-victory overtime periods without a goal before WPI prevailed, 2-1, in the shootout.
Neither team found the back of the cage in the opening quarter, although Springfield earned a pair of penalty corners and put one shot toward the WPI cage. WPI generated a corner of its own, while Lakin and Springfield goalkeeper
Sam Orcutt (Forestdale, MA) kept the game scoreless. The Pride's lone shot, from
Rachel Simkewicz (Westminster, MA), was blocked.
The defensive battle continued through the second quarter, with WPI earning two penalty corners and Springfield being held without a shot. The Engineers put a shot toward the cage as
Emma Barton (Hopewell Junction, NY) had an attempt blocked, but neither team could break through before halftime.
WPI continued to generate pressure in the third quarter, earning three penalty corners and putting one shot on target. Lakin made a save on Simkewicz at 33:11, while Orcutt denied
Ella Reeners (Windham, NH) at 40:09. The teams remained scoreless entering the final 15 minutes.
The Engineers created their best opportunities of regulation in the fourth quarter, putting five shots toward the Springfield cage and earning three penalty corners. Orcutt turned aside attempts by
Ava Walker (Grafton, MA),
Lucy Clement (Burlington, MA) and
Violet Westburg (Falmouth, ME) during a late flurry, while Springfield had a pair of shots blocked. The teams remained deadlocked at 0-0 after 60 minutes.
WPI continued to control the offensive pressure in overtime, earning five penalty corners and putting six shots toward the cage across the two 10-minute periods. Lakin made saves on
Amber Wolkner (Farmington, CT),
Ava Coppola (Southington, CT) and
Clare Moore (New Preston, CT), while Orcutt repeatedly answered for Springfield. Chase was awarded a penalty stroke at 73:29, but Orcutt made the save, and the teams remained scoreless through 80 minutes.
In the shootout,
Sanidi Waduthanthri (Hopkinton, MA) and Chase converted for WPI, while Springfield's
Lily Bialack (Bridgewater, CT) was the Pride's lone successful shooter. Chase's conversion in the fifth round and Lakin fourth stop of the shootout gave WPI the 2-1 shootout edge.
WPI finished with an 18-7 advantage in shots, including an 11-4 edge in shots on goal, while earning 14 penalty corners to Springfield's nine. Lakin made four saves to record their third shutout of the season and ninth of their career, while Orcutt finished with 11 saves for the Pride.
WPI kicks off a brief two-game homestand Tuesday, squaring off with Wheaton at 7pm. Springfield remains home Wednesday, entertaining Husson at 6:30pm.
