Peterson Lifts No. 9 Field Hockey to 3-2 2OT Victory at Smith

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Junior Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored the game winning goal at 95:48 of the second overtime, to help No. 9 Wellesley College field hockey earn a 3-2 victory over Smith College on Saturday afternoon in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play. The Blue improve to 3-0 in the conference and 9-1 overall following today's victory. Smith drops to 4-4 (2-1 NEWMAC).

A second half rally from the Pioneers set up Peterson's late heroics, as Wellesley wasn't able to hold on after the break despite building a two-goal advantage.

Sophomore Emmy Hamilton (New York, N.Y.) scored the only goal of the first half in the 31^st minute when her effort from the right off Smith goalkeeper Cameo Tietje (Massapequa, N.Y.) took a deflection before finding its way into the back of the cage.

With the Blue leading 1-0 at halftime, senior Anissa Sridhar (London, Ontario, Canada) added the second Wellesley goal in the 39^th minute, redirecting a drive from the top of the circle by first year Cecie Negron (Midlothian, Va.) to help the Blue make good on a penalty corner opportunity.

Trailing 2-0, Smith countered with a pair of goals less than four minutes apart to tie the game. Junior Elsie Odhiambo (Oyugis, Kenya) started the comeback, driving home a shot from the slot on an assist from sophomore Julia Hamilton (Williamstown, Mass.) in the 44^th minute. Sophomore Mariah Ollive (Milton, Vt.) went on to add the second Smith goal in the 48^th minute, when she corralled a loose ball in front of the cage and finished for her second goal of the season.

Despite a furious late charge from the Blue that forced Smith's Tietje to make four saves, and first year Beatrice Chaudoin (Millersville, Md.) to add a defensive save, in the final 15 minutes of regulation, the game went to overtime with the score tied, 2-2.

The Pioneers outshot the Blue, 4-3, in the opening overtime period before Wellesley asserted its dominance in the second. The Blue outshot Smith 3-0 in the second extra session, ending the game when Peterson scored on an assist from Sridhar after Tietje had turned aside an effort from junior Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.).

Wellesley finished the contest with a 20-13 advantage in shots and a 16-11 advantage in penalty corners. Blue junior goalkeeper Lucy Hurlock (Needham, Mass.) recorded nine saves to earn her ninth win of the season. Tietje also added nine saves for the Pioneers.

The Blue now face another test in their next match-up as they will travel across town on Tuesday evening, October 5, for a 5:00 PM NEWMAC matchup with No. 16 Babson. Smith also continues conference play on Tuesday when they host Mount Holyoke at 7:00 PM.