Bensaia's OT Goal Lifts 'Cats Past Cal, 3-2, Into Semifinals

Friday, November 3

Lowell, Mass.

12 PM

University of New Hampshire

(8-11)

University of California

(9-8)

OT 2

New Hampshire

California

Bensaia's OT Goal Lifts 'Cats Past Cal, 3-2, Into Semifinals

11/3/2017 5:14:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Video Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) scored two goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime, to lead the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to a 3-2 victory against the University of California in Friday afternoon's America East quarterfinal at UMass Lowell's Wicked Blue Field.

UNH, the East Division #3 seed, improves to 8-11 overall and will play East #1 seed and No. 21-ranked University at Albany in a Nov. 4 (12 p.m.) semifinal at Wicked Blue Field. Cal was the West Division #2 seed and ends the season at 9-8.

New Hampshire recorded sizable advantages in both shots (24-9) and penalty corners (15-4) but needed to overcome a pair of one-goal deficits to force OT.

Erin McNamara (Sanbornton, N.H.) scored the Wildcats' other goal and Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario) tallied two assists. Kelsey Rudert (North Grafton, Mass.) was credited with three saves and Cal counterpart Danielle Mentink stopped 11 shots.

GAME INFORMATION
Event: America East Championship, quarterfinal round
Date: Friday, November 3
Place: Wicked Blue Field (Lowell, Mass.)
Attendance: 245
Score: New Hampshire 3, Cal 2 [overtime]
Updated Records: UNH (8-11)… Cal (9-8)

GAME RECAP

Cal took a 1-0 lead at 31:39 when Megan Rodgers dribbled into the circle on the top-left side and fired a shot inside the near post from seven yards out.
UNH trailed by that one-goal margin at halftime despite generating a 7-2 shot advantage and 5-0 edge in corners through 35 minutes.
The Wildcats tied the score, 1-1, at 42:05 by converting a penalty corner into a goal. Bloem van den Brekel (Eindhoven, Netherlands) inserted the ball to start the scoring sequence, which ended when Mendonca's shot from the top-left was redirected into the cage by Bensaia.
The Golden Bears regained the lead, 2-1, at 42:05 on the second of consecutive corners. Mara Gutierrez's initial shot was blocked in front, but Melina Moore was at the left doorstep and backhanded a low shot into the cage.
New Hampshire was awarded a penalty corner in the 64^th minute. Mendonca's direct shot was stopped by Mentink but led to a second corner.
This time, van den Brenkel went short corner to Mendonca and her blast toward the right post was redirected high into the cage by McNamara to level the score, 2-2, with 5:42 remaining in regulation.
UNH earned another corner with two minutes remaining, but this time McNamara sent a shot over the crossbar.
Cal generated the first dangerous scoring chance in overtime with a corner in the fifth minute, but Rodgers was denied by Rudert.
The 'Cats quickly advanced the ball to the other end of the field to create a 2-on-1 rush. Bensaia's bid was denied by Mentink but led to a corner.
van den Brekel inserted the ball to Bensaia at the top of the circle. She quickly shifted to the right before blasting a shot that ricocheted off a defender's stick high into the cage to end the game at 75:12.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Bensaia, who was named to the East Division All-Conference Team on the eve of the tourney, matched her career highs in both goals (two) and points (four). She established both of those marks in the 2014 season vs. Miami.
This was the second time this season Bensaia scored an OT game-winner at Wicked Blue Field; she also gave UNH a 4-3 overtime win vs. UMass Lowell on Oct. 6.
Mendonca matched her personal best of two assists that she set in the season opener against Northeastern.
van den Brekel, an All-Rookie Team honoree, extended her point streak to five games with an assist on the game-winning goal. She has 10 points (3g, 4a) during the streak.
Six of UNH's last seven games, including two straight, have been decided by one goal; the 'Cats are 3-3 in those one-goal games.
UNH is 4-2 in overtime games this year with a breakdown of 4-0 in games decided in the first overtime session and 0-2 when games advance to a second OT.
New Hampshire improved to 6-2 when scoring three or more goals in a game this year.
The 'Cats are 2-0 at neutral sites this year. They were 5-4 victors vs. Northeastern in the season opener played at Boston University.
This was UNH's first win in the America East tourney since 2014, when the Wildcats upended Maine, 5-2, in the semifinals.
New Hampshire is seeking its fifth America East title overall and first since 2013.
UNH has a 4-2 lifetime record against Cal. These programs had not met since 2006.

SHOTS: UNH 7-15-2—24. CAL 2-6-1—9.

PENALTY CORNERS: UNH 5-9-1—15. CAL 0-3-1—4.

GOALS
UNH (3): Gianna Bensaia (2), Erin McNamara
CAL (2): Megan Rodgers, Melina Moore

ASSISTS
UNH (3): Ashley Mendonca (2), Bloem van den Brekel
CAL (0)

SAVES
UNH: Kelsey Rudert 0-2-1-3 (75:12... 2 GA) [WIN]
CAL: Danielle Mentink 4-6-1-11 (75:12 … 3 GA) [loss]

DEFENSIVE SAVES
UNH (0)
CAL (0)