Bensaia Scores Twice, Field Hockey Falls 3-2 in OT to Miami

Friday, September 26

6 pm

University of New Hampshire

(2-7)

Miami University (OH)

(3-7)

OT 2

Miami (Ohio)

New Hampshire

9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) scored two goals for the University of New Hampshire, but Miami University's Valentinia Neira scored late in regulation and Bea Dechant struck at 74:22 to lift the RedHawks to Friday night's 3-2 overtime victory in field hockey action at Memorial Field.

UNH, which was coming off last Sunday's 7-1 win vs. Hofstra University, is now 2-7 overall. Miami, which scored on the only shot of the extra session, improved to 3-7.

It marked the first two career goals for Bensaia, a redshirt freshman. Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) was credited with her first assist as a Wildcat. Senior goalkeeper Carlie Tarbell (Wakefield, Mass.) made two of her three saves in the first half.

Miami overcame a pair of one-goal deficits to rally for the win. In addition to Neira and Dechant, Geagy Pritchard scored for the visitors. Dechant also assisted on Pritchard's tally and Carla Romagosa set up Neira's game-tying goal. Alysa Xavier made both of her saves in the first half.

New Hampshire threatened in the opening minutes but Meg Flatley (Townsend, Mass.), from 12 yards at the top of the circle, fired a shot kicked aside by Xavier.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead at 7:40 when Nerbonne's centering pass from the right side of the circle was deflected by a lunging Bensaia into the cage. Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario) set up the tally as she dribbled along the right sideline and struck an entry pass in to Nerbonne.

Miami generated a scoring opportunity in the 13^th minute as Tarbell made a blocker save on Neira's rising blast from the top-right side. The RedHawks continued to pressure and tied the score, 1-1, at 15:38. Shannon Regan inserted the ball on a penalty corner, and Dechant's direct shot from the top of the circle was tipped by Pritchard deep on the right wing inside the near post.

In the 19^th minute, UNH was awarded a penalty corner. Nerbonne advanced from the top of the circle, but her reverse-stick shot was blocked by a MU defender. Five minutes later, Meg Carroll (Mansfield, Mass.) evaded the defense to penetrate deep on the left side, but Xavier was in position for the save on her reverse-stick attempt.

The 'Cats continued to pressure and gained another corner in the 25^th minute. This time Nerbonne's redirection from the middle of the circle sailed over the crossbar to keep the game tied at 1.

The RedHawks forced a corner in the 30^th minute and Ali Froede's low blast was kicked aside by Tarbell.

UNH also scored early in the second half to regain the lead, 2-1, at 41:23. Bensaia corralled a deflected ball on the top-right side of the corner and lofted a shot into the upper-right corner.

In the 54^th minute, Flatley and Nerbonne generated a give-and-go in transition. Flatley carried the ball up the middle and swung a pass wide right to Nerbonne, who immediately hit a centering pass that Flatley was unable to control.

Miami garnered a corner two minutes later. Gabby Goldach's direct shot was kicked aside by Tarbell and Dechant collected the rebound on the top-right, but her flick was blocked by a Wildcat defender.

Miami called timeout at 57:53. UNH effectively kept the visitors out of the attacking zone, however, until the RedHawks were awarded a corner in the 66^th minute. Dechant's direct shot from the top of the circle was double blocked by the defense over the end line. MU retained possession and Romagosa's entry pass from the right wing set up Neira's game-tying goal at 66:15.

With 90 seconds remaining in regulation, UNH's Mendonca stickhandled around three Miami defenders to advance to the middle of the circle. Her pass didn't connect, but the 'Cats battled for possession and were given a corner with one minute on the clock. UNH pushed the ball from the top of the circle wide right to Nerbonne, but her shot was blocked. Mendonca corralled the ball in the middle and she struck a bouncing shot went wide right of the cage.

The RedHawks took their first lead of the game when Dechant scored the unassisted game-winning goal 4:22 into overtime. From the right wing, she cut perpendicularly to the top of the circle. Dechant lost her balance and, as she hit the ground, swept a rolling shot inside the right post.

The overall shots were even 8-8 and Miami had a 5-3 edge in corners.

New Hampshire returns to action Sept. 28 at sixth-ranked Boston College. Game time at Newton Sports Complex is 4 p.m. The Wildcats' next home game is Oct. 10 (3 p.m.) against Albany.