Field Hockey opens NE10 play with shootout win at SCSU
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - A week after winning a nonconference game at home against Southern Connecticut State University, the American International College field hockey team took the one that counted for the Northeast-10 Conference, winning a shootout 3-0 to take a 3-2 win on Saturday, September 21.
AIC is now 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the NE10.
The Yellow Jackets struck first on a tremendous individual play by Fenna Voll, who broke down the right side of the field and cut across the top of the circle before firing a reverse shot low past the goalkeeper at 12:34 for her third goal of the season.
The 1-0 lead held until after halftime, when the Owls tied the game; Keana Criscuolo banged in a rebound of a Trinidad Rodriguez Ricchiuti shot at 3:44 of the third period.
AIC bounced right back to regain the lead in the period. Brooke Szafran inserted a corner to the top left of the circle, and Mar Busqueta fired a high arcing shot that Rachel Miller tried to bat out of the air. She deflected it up, and Szafran, standing on the left post, was able to knock the rebound out of the air for her second of the season at 9:23.
The Owls drew a penalty stroke late in the frame, but Frederique den Hartog was up to the task, diving to her right to knock away Natalia Fiato's chance.
In the fourth, however, the Owls were awarded another stroke, and this time Lindsey Onofrio converted, scoring at 10:57 to even the contest and ultimately force overtime.
Both teams had chances in the extra session, but neither could crack the goalkeepers, necessitating a shootout.
In the skills competition, Mia Wood kicked off with an air-dribble tally, flicking the ball out of the reach of Lyndsay Troisi and then beating her to the line to tap it in. AIC's second shooter was Dominique Bassallo, who executed a spin move before tucking the ball five-hole and in. Finally, Busqueta charged in and drove the ball through Troisi's legs as well to cap off the 3-0 shootout victory.
den Hartog, who was perfect in the shootout, made 11 stops in the 80 minutes of play to improve to 2-2 on the season.
AIC continues NE10 play with a trip to Saint Michael's College on Wednesday, September 25 for a 4:00 p.m. start.