Southern Maine Shoots Past Fitchburg State, 5-4 (OT)

Bush collects four points in Falcons final contest of the 2013 campaign

FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 2, 2013) – The Fitchburg State field hockey team concluded its 2013 campaign this afternoon, dropping a tough overtime decision to the University of Southern Maine, 5-4  in Little East Conference action at Elliot Field.  

With the victory, Southern Maine clinches a 2013 playoff berth, finishing the regular season with an overall record of 10-10 and a 6-5 mark in the LEC. The Huskies currently await their seed for the Little East tournament. Fitchburg State concludes its season with an overall record of 6-11 and a 1-10 mark in the conference.

For the Huskies, sophomore Jessica Boghosian (Belgrade, Maine) recorded the game-winning tally just 51 seconds into the first overtime period, netting her fourth goal of the season for clinch Southern Maine's tenth victory of the year.

In the first half, Southern Maine controlled much of the action, totaling a 14-4 advantage in targets, but Fitchburg State made the most of its opportunities, posting a 1-1 draw at the break. The Huskies opened the scoring at the 15:11 mark as Natalie Harkins (Windham, Maine) connected for her 12th goal of the season with a feed from Dostie. The Falcons countered nearly 17 minutes later as Amber Nunes (West Wareham, Mass.) notched her first goal of the year with off a Rebecca Bush (Littleton, Mass.) rebound.

The final 35 minutes was action packed with each team scoring three goals in the frame. Fitchburg State started the scoring as Stephanie Stearns (Mystic, Conn.) notched her team-leading eighth goal of the season, but Southern Maine's Rebecca Pratt (Cornville, Maine) knotted the score at 2-2 with her eighth score of the year just six minutes later.

The Falcons grabbed a one goal advantage again behind Erin Morrissey's (Hubbardston, Mass.) second tally of the season at the 58:25 mark, but back-to-back scores from senior forward Ariel Kaplan and Pratt put the Huskies ahead (4-3) with less than four minutes remaining. Fitchburg State answered however as it was award a penalty stroke at 68:10 mark and Bush cashed in, forcing the game into overtime with her fifth score of the year.

In overtime, Fitchburg State gained the first scoring opportunity, driving down the field only to see the ball go wide of the net. Southern Maine countered, driving in transition to set up Boghosian;s game-winner from the top of the key.

For the game, Southern Maine out-shot Fitchburg State 33-13 while holding an 18-2 advantage in corners. In net, sophomore Judith Valentin (Brockton, Mass.) was strong over her 85 minutes of work, posting 17 saves, while freshman Amanda Kasbohm (York, Maine) collected her first collegiate victory with five stops on the afternoon.