HENNIKER, N.H. – Senior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) scored both goals Thursday evening, including the double-overtime game-winner, as Lasell University nipped New England College, 2-1, in non-conference field hockey action at Don Melander Field.
The Lasers won their fourth straight game to get back to the .500 mark at 7-7 overall, while the Pilgrims drop to 5-8.
Taylor broke up a scoreless game with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter with her 10th goal of the season, and then tallied the game-winner on a penalty stroke with 2:21 to go in the second extra session. Taylor reached double figures in goal scoring for the fourth straight season and with 58 career goals is eight shy of the Lasell all-time record.
Both defenses held strong in the first half of the game as neither team could score in the first 30 minutes. New England College's best scoring opportunity came with just under three minutes remaining in the first half, as the Pilgrims got four shots off.
Coming out of halftime, the Lasers were able to establish control. Lasell outshot NEC 12-3 while maintaining a 7-1 advantage in corners. With 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Lasell got on the board, as Taylor chipped the ball over the sprawled out NEC keeper.
New England College would respond in the fourth quarter, as Brittany Tierney scored the equalizer. Leah Foster passed the ball to the goal line, where Kasey Arnold slid the ball across the crease and Tierney drove home the goal. In the fourth, the Pilgrims outshot the Lasers 5-0 and had a 3-2 advantage in corners.
Lasell was the only team to register a shot in the first overtime period. New England College took control in the second overtime as the Pilgrims fired five shots, including hitting one post. Lasell flipped the script, taking two shots before being awarded a penalty shot. Taylor took the shot for the Lasers and put in inside the near post to win the game for Lasell.
Ellie Philben picked up 12 saves for New England College, while sophomore Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) recorded 14 stops for the Lasers to record the win.
Lasell returns home for the Senior Day game on Saturday, October 19, at noon at Grellier Field, hosting Great Northeast Athletic Conference-leading Saint Joseph's College of Maine. New England College returns to New England Collegiate action on Saturday, October 19th, as they host UMaine Farmington for their "Play 4 The Cure Game" at 1:00 p.m.
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