Field Hockey Drops Shootout Heartbreaker to Conn. College

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College field hockey team dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to visiting Connecticut College in a shootout on Wednesday evening. The loss sets the Blue's season mark to 6-2, while the Camels improve to 4-2 with the victory. 

Wellesley held commanding advantages in both shots (20-4) and in penalty corners (19-3) but was unable to put the game out of reach. Connecticut College, meanwhile, got solid play from goalkeeper Jeannette Hoets to keep the game close, before sealing the win off of Ali Holland's stick in the shootout.

The Blue controlled much of the first half, racking up 10 penalty corners while out-shooting the Camels, 5-1. Wellesley, however, did not break through until a minute and 36 seconds into the second half, when Emily Lewis scored off of a penalty corner insertion from Nanaki Atal. 

Wellesley's 1-0 edge would hold until the 64th minute when Connecticut College's Heidi Halsted knotted things at 1-1 with a penalty corner goal of her own. Halsted found the back of the cage after a pass from Brittany Fitzgerald on the corner.

The Blue rattled off three shots in the final five minutes of regulation, but two saves from Hoets and a blocked shot sent the game into overtime.  

In the first overtime period, Wellesley recorded five shots, but three saves from Hoets kept the Blue off the board. Connecticut College had several late chances, but a save from Wellesley's Brit Mscisz and strong defense from Dana Marks, kept the game at 1-1. 

Wellesley held the edge in the second overtime, recording six shots while holding the Camels without an attempt. Connecticut College did have a penalty corner opportunity in the 99th minute, but the Camels were unable to get off a shot, setting up the shootout. 

Each team converted two shots in both the first round and the second round of the shootout, to set the table for a sudden victory round. After Wellesley's first shot of the round missed, the Camel's Holland was able to find the back of the cage to seal the 2-1 victory for the visitors.

For Connecticut College, Hoets finished the game with seven saves. Wellesley's Mscisz made one stop, while facing only four shots in 100 minutes of action

Wellesley is back in action on Saturday, hosting Smith College at 12:00pm for Homecoming. Connecticut College returns to the field on Saturday, traveling to Bowdoin for an 11:00am start.