#10 Stonehill Drops Heartbreaker to Adelphi, 3-2 (OT)


Freshman Erika Kelly scored with three seconds remaining to force overtime for the Skyhawks this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

Skyhawks rally comes up just short in extra time

EASTON, Mass. (October 14, 2012) – Adelphi University withstood a strong comeback effort from Stonehill College, ranked 10th in this week's National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, to claim a 3-2 overtime victory in a key Northeast-10 Conference field hockey matchup on Senior Day at Timothy J. Coughlin Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon.

Junior Jamie Ackerman (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) played a role in all three Adelphi goals as she netted the deciding goal with 3:53 remaining in the first overtime period and added a pair of assists in the victory. Senior Kristine Puzio (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) preserved the win with 13 saves, including three in overtime, in the Panthers cage.

Adelphi also got goals from senior Cassie Cabral (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) and freshman Kristen Bagley (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) to stake out a two goal lead in the first half. Stonehill finished with a 28-12 advantage for shots in the contest, including 17-5 after halftime and 10-3 in overtime. The Skyhawks held a 14-8 edge for penalty corners, including 5-1 in overtime, but saw its comeback bid fall just a goal short.


Sophomore Emily Sideris got an important goal for the Skyhawks just before halftime. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

Sophomore Emily Sideris (Watertown, Mass./Watertown) and freshman Erika Kelly (Watertown, Mass./Watertown) scored goals for Stonehill. Senior Kaitlyn Curtis (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) finished with three saves in goal for the Skyhawks.

Ackerman set up goals for Cabral and Bagley six minutes apart midway through the first half to give Adelphi a 2-0 lead. Cabral deflected Ackerman's drive from the upper right corner of the arc high into the net for her ninth goal of the season at 16:05. Bagley one-timed another Ackerman drive from the right side of the arc into the goal for her third marker of the season at 21:53.

Sideris pulled a goal back with 2:13 left before halftime as she pounced on a rebound off an initial shot by junior Devin Ingersoll (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) and knocked it into an open net for her fourth goal of the year.

Neither team created many chances in the second half until Stonehill turned up the pressure late in regulation. Adelphi looked to clear its defensive zone, but Stonehill senior Jessica Laurendeau (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) intercepted a clear at midfield and sent a long pass towards Kelly, that was deflected by Sideris as time was running out. Kelly gathered the ball, made a move past Puzio and slotted a low shot past the keeper for the tying goal with just three seconds remaining in regulation.

Stonehill had the run of play in overtime, with Curtis making two big saves on Adelphi counter attacks, but the final counter proved to be the difference. Ackerman gathered the ball on the right side and fired a shot into the left side of the goal from a low angle for her third goal of the season at 81:07.

Stonehill (7-9, 3-5 NE-10) hits the road to face Saint Anselm College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Adelphi (6-10, 5-3 NE-10) hosts American International College on Tuesday at 7 p.m.