Compagna's Overtime Goal Lifts Field Hockey Past Maine, 3-2

Friday, October 31

3 pm

University of New Hampshire

(7-11, 4-1)

Maine

(10-9, 3-2)

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
New Hampshire	1	1	1	3
Maine	1	1	0	2

10/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score

ORONO, Maine – Emma Compagna (Canton, Mass.) scored at 11:36 of overtime to lift the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to Friday afternoon's 3-2 victory against the University of Maine at UMaine Field Hockey Complex.

UNH improved to 7-11 overall and 4-1 in America East in the conference finale to secure the No. 2 seed in next week's league tournament. Maine is now 10-9, 3-2 and the No. 3 seed. These teams will meet in a Nov. 6 semifinal game at the University at Albany.

Jackie Hozza (Singing Spring, Pa.) and Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) scored the other goals for the Wildcats, who recorded the advantage in both shots (22-10) and penalty corners (9-3). Carlie Tarbell (Wakefield, Mass.) recorded three of her six saves in the extra session.

Marissa Shaw and Zoe Berkey scored for Maine. Emma Cochran surrendered three goals and made nine saves, including three in OT, in 74:08 of action. Emily Corbet had a relief stint of 7:28 when Cochran was issued a yellow card at 51:00; Corbet stopped the only shot she faced.

"I feel like this is definitely a positive game for us heading into the tourney next week," UNH 24^th-year head coach Robin Balducci said. "We had some great individual performances, balanced scoring and good scoring. And a good result."

The Black Bears generated a corner in the 10^th minute and Holly Stewart fired a shot wide. Annabelle Hamilton corralled the ball the right doorstep, but Tarbell was in position to make the save.

UNH earned its first corner of the game at 15:02 and converted that scoring chance into a 1-0 lead. Nerbonne's initial shot from the top-right was stopped by Cochran, but Hozza collected the rebound five yards out and struck a shot past a defender into the open cage for her second goal of the season at 15:14.

In the 18^th minute, Meg Carroll (Mansfield, Mass.) advanced the ball in transition to the top-left of the circle and made a crossing pass to the right side, where the oncoming Nerbonne drove a shot wide of the cage.

The 'Cats were awarded another corner in the 29^th minute. A sequence of passes led to possession for Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) on the top-left side, and her shot bounced wide of the near post.

Maine leveled the score, 1-1, at 30:16 on Shaw's diving effort off a pass from Nicole Sevey.

New Hampshire had an untimed corner at the end of the first half, but Kellie Joyce (South Pomfret, Vt.) sent a shot wide. The Wildcats had a 7-5 shot advantage and 3-2 edge in corners through 35 minutes.

The Black Bears quickly took a 2-1 lead in the second half when Berkey, with the assistance of Hannah Keating, scored 1:45 after play resumed.

The 'Cats had another corner at 43:50 and this time it was Carroll's shot that was off target.

Nerbonne tied the score, 2-2, with an unassisted goal – her 10^th tally of the season – at 45:50.

UNH pressured in the circle to record consecutive corners and a total of four shots in a 30-second span (during the 49^th minute). Joyce's initial shot was blocked, but it led to a second corner, which in turn produced shots by Chandler Giese (Trappe, Pa.) and Taylor Rideout (Barrington, R.I.) that were blocked and another off Hozza's stick that Cochran blocked aside.

The Wildcats called timeout at 59:46, and Maine called time out just 30 seconds later.

The 'Cats once again penetrated the circle and Compagna's bid was denied by Cochran in the 61^st minute, but it led directly to a corner. Cochran stopped Nerbonne's shot but once again the visitors were awarded a corner and this time the defense blocked Hozza's shot to keep the score deadlocked.

New Hampshire amassed an 11-2 shot advantage and 5-0 edge in corners during the second half.

UNH had the first scoring opportunity in the sudden-victory overtime session when Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.) drove past a defender on the top-left side and blasted a low shot that Cochran kicked out of the circle.

Maine responded with a flurry of shots at the other end of the field. The Black Bears were awarded a corner at 73:40, and Hamilton was denied twice by Tarbell. The home team retained possession and Hamilton's blast from the top-right was steered out by Tarbell at the near post.

On a Wildcats' corner in the 78^th minute, Cochran dropped to the turf to stop Nerbonne's low drive from the top of the circle, and a Black Bear teammate pulled the ball out and cleared it.

In the ninth minute of OT, Flatley gained possession at UNH's defensive 25 and split two defenders, then maneuvered around another near midfield. Her last touch was too long, however, as Cochran charged to the top-right of the circle to send the ball away from Flatley.

The Wildcats regained possession shortly thereafter and Nerbonne advanced from the right side to the top of the circle. Her reverse-stick shot was stopped by Cochran, but Compagna was in position at the right doorstep to corral the rebound and lift a shot over the goalie under the crossbar for the game-winning goal at 81:36.

New Hampshire concludes the regular season by celebrating Senior Day against intrastate rival Dartmouth College on Nov. 2 (2 p.m.).