For Immediate Release
November 7, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Springfield Upsets #1 Wellesley in NEWMAC Field Hockey Semifinals
Box Score
WELLESLEY, Mass. – The fourth-seeded Springfield College field hockey team notched a thrilling come-from-behind victory over top-seeded Wellesley College, 3-2, in overtime to advance to the 2009 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship game.
After tying the game in the final minute of regulation play, Springfield’s Becca Gamble (Granby, CT) scored the game-winner just one minute into the extra period. The win improves Springfield to 12-8 overall, while Wellesley ends the 2009 campaign with an identical 12-8 record.
The Blue took an early lead when Callie Lekas (Brewster, MA) scored on a perfectly executed penalty corner from Dana Trail (Trappe, PA) and Kate Cushing (Danvers, MA). Wellesley would hold the 1-0 lead until late in the second half, when Springfield’s Alexa Carlson (New Milford, CT) connected to tie the score at 1-1 in the 49th minutes, on an assist from Morgan Rein (Mystic, CT).
Wellesley took the lead again when Lekas got around the Springfield defense to tally her second goal of the game, pushing the Blue lead to 2-1 with 16 minutes to play.
With time ticking off the clock, Wellesley appeared to have the game in hand, but Springfield’s Meg Bradley (Cumberland, RI) scored on an assist from Meagan Dobson (Longmeadow, MA) in the final minute to send the game into overtime.
Bradley assisted Gamble's game-winning goal just one minute into the extra period to secure the win for Springfield and send the Pride to the NEWMAC Championship.
First-year goalie Anna Calano (Columbia, CT) had 2 saves for the Pride. Wellesley goalie Sarina Sawyer (Wilmette, IL) had five saves in the loss.
Springfield will take on MIT in the NEWMAC Finals tomorrow at Wellesley College at 1pm.