Blue Field Hockey Tops Springfield on Maisano's OT Winner, 2-1

WELLESLEY, Mass. – First year Hannah Maisano (Gambrills, Md.) scored the game-winning goal 5:55 into the first overtime period to send Wellesley College field hockey to a 2-1 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over visiting Springfield College on Homecoming Saturday at Wellesley College. 

Maisano's second OT winner of the season, and third game-winning goal of the year, helped the Blue improve to 7-6 overall and move to 4-3 in conference. The Pride fall to 5-8 and 1-4 in the NEWMAC. 

With the score tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation, the Blue took advantage of their second penalty corner opportunity of the extra session to end the contest. Senior Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.) found Maisano on the right post where the first year slammed the ball past Springfield goalkeeper Abbey Doherty (Hampton, N.H.)  into the backboard for the Wellesley win.

Sharkin finished the contest with a pair of assists, also setting up Wellesley sophomore Rachel Huang (Campbell, Calif.) for the first goal of the game at 9:33 of the first half. Sharkin pushed the ball from the top of the circle toward Huang, who turned and fired it into the cage.

With Wellesley leading 1-0, the Pride tied the game just before halftime, as Maggie Kennedy (Clay, N.Y.) scored her eighth of the season on a feed from junior midfielder Ann Mahoney (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). The teams then played a scoreless second half before advancing to overtime. 

Doherty finished a strong afternoon in goal with 11 saves for the Pride. In the Wellesley cage, senior Lucy Hurlock (Needham, Mass.) made five saves to pick-up the win on senior day. Wellesley had a 20-9 edge in shots and a 13-5 edge in penalty corner opportunities in the contest.

Both teams will continue the NEWMAC season on Tuesday, October 18. The Blue will face-off with MIT at 6:00 PM in Cambridge, while Springfield will host Clark University for a 4:00 PM contest. 

Prior to Saturday's game the Blue recognized Sharkin, Hurlock and fellow seniors Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Cat Anderson (Andover, Mass.) during the team's senior day ceremony.