Late Heroics Send Field Hockey to 2-1 OT Win Over Smith in NEWMAC Semis

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Senior Anissa Sridhar (London, Ontario) scored 7:20 into the first overtime as second-seeded Wellesley College rallied to defeat third-seeded Smith College, 2-1, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) field hockey tournament on Saturday afternoon at MacDowell Field.

With its seventh consecutive victory, Wellesley (16-2) advances to the conference title game for the third straight year. Smith, which was making its first NEWMAC Tournament semifinal appearance since 2000, sees its season conclude at 11-9.

The Pioneers opened the scoring at 14:31 of the first half as first-year Emily Biggs (Florence, Mass.) converted a feed from classmate Beatrice Chaudoin (Millersville, Md.) following a penalty corner for a 1-0 lead. Despite a 24-5 edge in shots during regulation, the Blue were unable to breakdown the Smith defense for much of the afternoon.

Pioneers sophomore goalkeeper Cameo Tietje (Massapequa, N.Y.) made four first-half saves and came up with a trio of big stops in the second half. She denied Wellesley junior Nikki Sharkin's (Summit, N.J.) shot off a corner in the 37th minute and twice came off her line to deny Sridhar in the closing minutes of the second half.

The Blue finally drew even with 3:49 left in regulation, converting one of its 14 second-half corners. Following the insert by junior Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.), first-year Cecie Negron (Midlothian, Va.) fed Sharkin, who beat Tietje for her sixth marker of the year.

Smith was unable to convert on the first scoring opportunity of overtime as Wellesley junior goalkeeper Lucy Hurlock (Needham, Mass.) made a kick save on a shot by Biggs off a penalty corner. The Blue took advantage, earning three consecutive corners with the final opportunity leading to Sridhar's game winner. Sharkin collected Peterson's insert and fed Sridhar, who spun and found the back of the net for her team-leading 12th goal of the year.

Tietje finished with eight saves for the Pioneers, while Hurlock made three stops for Wellesley.

The Blue held a 28-6 advantage in shots and a 22-2 edge in penalty corners.

Wellesley will take on fifth-seeded Mount Holyoke for in the NEWMAC championship game for the third year in a row on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Courtesy Babson College Sports Information