Stonehill Fights Past Saint Anselm, 3-2 (OT)


Junior Chelsea Fizell scored 9:08 into overtime to lift the Skyhawks past Saint Anselm. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Fizell goal lifts Skyhawks to ninth-straight overtime win

EASTON, Mass. (October 18, 2011) – Stonehill College posted its ninth-straight overtime victory dating back to 2008 with a 3-2 comeback decision over Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey action at W.B. Mason Stadium tonight.

Junior Chelsea Fizell (Cotuit, Mass./The Berkshire School) scored the deciding goal 9:08 into the extra frame when she pounced on a loose ball near the goal and slid it past Saint Anselm junior goaltender Megan Sullivan (Braintree, Mass./Thayer Academy) for her third marker of the season. It marks the fourth overtime victory for the Skyhawks this season, the second over the Hawks (both 3-2 score lines), and the ninth-straight dating back to a 2-1 setback to Southern Connecticut State University on October 8, 2008.

Stonehill also got goals from senior Lauren Colligan (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia Central) and sophomore Kelsey Davis (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) on the night. Freshman Elizabeth Genovese (Street, Md./North Harford) made three saves in goal to give the Skyhawks a chance at the comeback. Stonehill posted a 25-7 advantage for shots in the match, including a 13-2 margin after halftime and 6-0 in overtime. The Skyhawks also held a 15-4 edge in penalty corners – 5-0 in overtime.


Sophomore Kelsey Davis forced overtime with her first goal of the year with 5:25 to play in the second half. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Junior Kristina Katsikis (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) scored both first half goals for Saint Anselm, while freshman Bridget Davis (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) dished an assist. Sullivan finished with six saves in the Hawks cage.

Davis' first goal of the season forced overtime when she one-timed a rebound off the right post on a shot by senior All-American Kathryn Nelson (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) on a corner with 5:25 left in regulation. Stonehill kept the pressure on, outshooting Saint Anselm 8-0 over the final 14:32, including the 6-0 margin in overtime.

Katsikas opened the scoring at 18:03 when she knocked in her own rebound on the left post. Stonehill quickly answered as Colligan netted her first of the year at 21:00 with a one-time off a rebound. It was the second career goal for the Skyhawks senior, whose first career marker came in a 5-1 win over Saint Anselm in 2009.

Katsikas regained the lead for the Hawks with under five minutes to play before halftime when she tipped a long drive from five yards outside the arc from Davis past Genovese at 30:17 for her team-leading 13th goal of the year.

Stonehill (8-8, 3-5 NE-10) continues its postseason push on Thursday night when it visits Franklin Pierce University for a Northeast-10 clash at 6 p.m. The Skyhawks are back home on Saturday to round out the regular season against Saint Michael's College at W.B. Mason Stadium for Senior Day at noon. Saint Anselm (5-10, 3-6 NE-10) hosts Bentley University on Thursday for its NE-10 finale at 4 p.m.

Postgame Interviews