ONEONTA, NY – Elizabeth Zmijewski (Oaklyn, NJ/Collingswood) scored 59 seconds into the second overtime period to lift Stevens (11-3) to a 1-0 win over Hartwick's field hockey team on Saturday at Wright Stadium. The victory keeps the Ducks unbeaten in the conference at 4-0. Hartwick slips to second with a 3-1 mark.
Zmijewski scored on a rocket from the left side of the circle to the far post past 'Wick keeper Mackenzie Chapman (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) for the game-winning score. The tally was Zmijewski's first of the season.
The Ducks finished the match with a 9-5 edge in shots and a 7-5 advantage in penalty corners. Hartwick took three of the four shots in the first 15-minute overtime session with Stevens registering both in the first minute of the second, including the clincher.
Over the course of the match, the Hawks had two goals which were disallowed, one coming in the first overtime that would have won the contest. With 12 and a half minutes to go in regulation, Morgan Cestari (Lake Grove, NY/Centerreach) ripped a shot from just outside the circle past Stevens' goalie Ellyn Griggs (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) for what appeared to be the go-ahead goal for the Hawks. The shot, however, failed to hit a Hartwick stick on its way in nullifying the tally.
With less than a minute left in the first sudden-victory overtime, Jen Kaye (Altamont, NY/Guilderland) received a pass from the right side of the field five yards from the Ducks' cage. All alone, Kaye patiently put the ball between the pads of Griggs and in to send the Hartwick sideline into jubilation. A referee's whistle had occurred prior to the cross though which cancelled out the goal.
Scoring chances were at a premium in the first 70 minutes of the match. Stevens took six shots to the Hawks' two. Chapman easily handled the Ducks' shots and sophomore Anna Drake (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) had two chances right on top of one another in the second half but her shots were stuffed by Griggs.
Things opened up in the overtimes with both teams playing with six field players. Senior Jenny Murphy (Vineyard Haven, MA/Martha's Vineyard) and junior Amanda Barton (Endwell, NY/Greene) both had hard shots from the circle that were blocked before reaching goal and Kelsey Kimble (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley) had an effort turned away by Briggs for 'Wick's offense in the first extra period.
Chapman finished the match with six saves for the Hawks. Griggs stopped three in the victory.
The setback is the first for the Hawks in a game reaching overtime. 'Wick had won three straight overtime matches over RPI, Hamilton, and Union, all by 2-1 scores.
Hartwick (9-4) returns to action on Tuesday night as they travel up the road for a non-conference meeting with Oneonta State at 7 p.m.
