After a tie-breaker shot in overtime, the Chargers field hockey team won, 6-5, against the Saint Michael’s College Purple Knights on Saturday.
New Haven and Saint Michael’s began the game with dominant offense with early attempts from both teams. The Purple Knights’ Ruby Harrington took the first attempt of the game but couldn’t make it past New Haven’s goalkeeper Cara Lambert. Forward Kat Trammel countered with a shot of her own for the Chargers, but Saint Michael’s goalkeeper Riley O’Connor saved it.
Forward Abby Nixon and midfielder Allie Brown were right behind with back-to-back shot attempts but were unable to reach the back of the cage. Seconds later, Brown rebounded her shot attempt and scored her first goal of the season which gave the Chargers a 1-0 advantage. Nearing the end of the quarter, the Purple Knights’ Reese Lord got an assist from Bridgie Loughlin and scored off a corner shot inside the right post. The period ended with a score of 1-1.
Five minutes into the second period, midfielder Johannah Lee took an attempt at goal, but it was saved by O’Connor. Brown followed with an attempt, but the shot was wide right. Shortly after, Nixon scored off a tip-in assist from midfielder Sophia Ruh which boosted New Haven to a 2-1 lead. Trammel looked to advance the lead as she took a trio of shots, but they were saved, wide right, and wide left, respectively. With under a minute left of the period, Nixon found the back of the cage again with the assist by defender Kelli Jacobson and put New Haven up 3-1. Saint Michael’s countered with a penalty goal from Addy Fenton with thirty seconds remaining. The Chargers entered halftime with a 3-2 advantage.
The Purple Knights started the second half strong as Harrington scored her second goal of the game off an assist from Chloe Sapienza. Minutes later, Nixon pressured Saint Michael’s defense and scored her third goal of the night from an assist by midfielder Sydney Moda at the left post. Both teams had a series of attempts throughout the remainder of the period but were unable to reach the back of the cage. The quarter finished with New Haven 4-3 over Saint Michael’s.
Entering the fourth period, Loughlin was able to find the back of the cage for Saint Michael’s after an assist from Sapienza, which put the Chargers and Purple Knights at a 4-4 tie. Trammel, Lee, and defender Eliza Caven each took attempts but couldn’t make it past the Purple Knight’s defense. Nixon kept her streak alive as she scored off a blast from the right assisted by midfielder Paige Garrett for her fourth and final goal of the game. Shortly after Saint Michael’s Harrington matched with a goal of her own assisted by Addy Fenton. Moda and forward Erin Smith added additional shot attempts for the Chargers, but both were saved by O’Connor at goal.
As the Chargers and Purple Knights entered overtime, they stood 5-5. Saint Michael’s Grace Nigolian and Harrington each took an attempt but were saved by Lambert and went out wide left, respectively. The Chargers had a series of shot attempts until Jacobson found a breakthrough and had a blast from the edge off an assist from Lee. With the overtime goal, New Haven won 6-5.
The Chargers finished with a total of 29 shot attempts, 19 being on goal, compared to the Purple Knight’s 14 attempts with only 10 at goal. During the 66 minutes of play, Lambert had five saves while O’Connor had 13 of her own.
After the win over Saint Michael’s, New Haven has an overall record of 6-10 overall and 5-6 in conference play. The Chargers will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday as they host the Adelphi University Panthers at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium.
For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
