ST. CHARLES, Mo.— The Bellarmine Knights field hockey team closed its 2017 season with a thrilling, 3-2 double overtime victory over Newberry in the third place game of the Eastern College Athletic Conference postseason tournament at Lindenwood's Hunter Stadium.
Merit Harris , who had just entered the game, took possession of the ball, raced down the left side of the field then broke to the top of the circle and made a great one on one move and delivered a hard, accurate crossing shot that found the back of the cage for the game-winner 2:26 into the second overtime period.
"That was a hard fought win today," said Bellarmine Coach
Mark Blankenbaker. "Newberry came out ready to win today. Unfortunately for them, so did we. It was good to finish with a win--for our seniors and for the team."
The Knights defeated the Wolves three times this season with two of the wins coming in overtime. Bellarmine won 2-1 in extra time in the game at Newberry, and the Knights dominated the Wolves 5-0 in Louisville just nine days ago.
In today's game, Newberry took the lead 10:50 into the first half on a goal from Kristyna Oyola. Bellarmine was firing shots, but didn't find the back of the cage until
Mandi Isom streaked down the field and took an unassisted shot that found its way past Wolves goalie Dakota Elzy to tie the game with 12:52 remaining in the first period.
Bellarmine, which outshot Newberry 10-3 in the first half, then took its first lead with 4:26 on the clock when
Lindsay Reynolds took a pass from
Jillian Fazio and lifted a shot over the goalkeeper into the cage.
"Lindsay's goal was a result of great teamwork," Blankenbaker explained. "We won a ball at midfield and Jill broke free, entered the circle and delivered a great feed to Lindsay, who was in perfect position to finish."
The second period was much more even with each team taking seven shots. The difference was Brady Keeler's shot with just 8:54 remaining in regulation that sailed over BU goalie
Heather Gregory for a 2-2 tie.
In the first overtime period, both teams had chances but each goalie recorded two saves to send the game into a second overtime.
The Knights came out firing in overtime number two with Isom getting off a shot that sailed wide just 14 seconds into the period. Bellarmine wouldn't waste another shot. as Harris recorded the "golden goal" with the Knights' next attempt.
"In the seven on seven (overtime), we dug down and fought through the exhaustion until it paid off with a win," Blankenbaker said. "The consistent thing about this team is that they work hard all the time, which really helped today."
The Knights finish the season 9-11 while Newberry ends its 2017 campaign 6-14.
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