NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College field hockey team dropped a 3-2 final against No. 10 Hamilton College on a rain-soaked Saturday morning at Silfen Field.
With the score tied at 2-2 following 60 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, the match was decided in a shootout. The Continentals converted on three of their four attempts and won the shootout by a 3-1 tally.
Kenna White scored Hamilton's first goal in the opening quarter, and Morgan Clarke recorded the game-tying goal with 1:21 to play in regulation. For the Camels,
Eloise Montagano (Bedford, N.H.) scored in the first half while
Sadie Gearan (Lynnfield, Mass.) supplied a go-ahead goal late in the fourth quarter.
Montagano's goal came off a penalty corner just over five minutes into the second quarter with the Camels trailing 1-0. With her back to the cage, she attempted a backhanded flick that was denied by goalkeeper Kelly Janssen. However, Montagano collected the rebound and had another go, this time elevating a shot into the back of the cage for her second goal of the season.
The teams went into the halftime break tied at 1-1. The third period was scoreless but featured a 40-minute weather delay in which the teams retreated to the locker rooms, but the rain eventually subsided and allowed for the completion of the game.
Gearan's goal came off a rip from the top of the circle on another penalty corner, giving the Camels a 2-1 lead for a moment. Hamilton responded by immediately pulling Janssen for the extra-player advantage, a strategy that paid dividends when Clarke cashed in a penalty corner 1:28 later to tie the game.
Both teams had scoring chances in extra time, but the best opportunity came with 1:30 remaining in the second overtime. Hamilton closed in on the goal with a 2-on-1 advantage that resulted in a shot by Brighton McMahon, but a sliding save by
Isabella Carnall (Malvern, Pa.) kept the score knotted at 2-2.
Janssen was strong in the shootout, denying the Camels on three of four attempts. McMahon, Clarke and Eva Bell all converted attempts for Hamilton, which improved to 6-1 overall (3-1 NESCAC).
Both Carnall and Janssen finished with four saves apiece. Hamilton held a 20-9 advantage in shots and a 22-3 edge in penalty corners, 13 of which came in the final quarter.
Conn (1-5 overall, 0-5 NESCAC) will next host MIT on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m.
