CLAREMONT- Stevens field hockey (3-3) hosted Kearsarge (5-3) on Friday evening in the Cardinals’ homecoming game. In a game that featured two teams both with just three losses on the year, it shaped up to be a back-and-forth battle, ending in a 0-0 tie in overtime.
In the first half, Kearsarge out-shot Stevens 5 to 3 and had to more penalty corners. The visiting Cougars had nothing to show for it, however, as Stevens’ defense stood strong.
The best opportunity for Kearsarge in the first half came with 8 minutes left. Multiple Cougar attackers were around the net on the brink of scoring the game’s first goal, but a kicking violation halted the rush, and the game went into the half tied 0-0.
The game titled in favor of the Cardinals in the second half, as they were the ones to out-shoot the Cougars, 5 to 3. Stevens’ Bri Frisbee was the ultimate playmaker in the second half, as time after time she was on a breakaway and was putting constant pressure on the Cougars’ back line.
At the 16-minute mark, Frisbee found herself at the doorstep of the Kearsarge goal. She tried to find Sophie Foote but Kearsarge goalie Marissa Pickman snuffed it away with a powerful kick.
Three minutes later, Frisbee held possession on a two-on-one with Foote, and Pickman came rushing out to prevent the attack.
At the 10-minute mark, a long pass from Stevens’ Zoey Foote set up another two-on-one for Frisbee and Sophie Foote, and after Frisbee had rushed down around the goal area, another aggressive save was made by Pickman.
Stevens found themselves with the best chance to win in regulation with 37 seconds left on the clock. After Frisbee made great centering passes time and time again in the second half that didn’t lead to goals, she took matters into her own hands this time around. With clutter in the middle, Frisbee found space around the right side of the defense and slapped a shot that hit the right post and bounced out, and Kearsarge defenders were back in time to clean up the rebound.
The Cardinals took the Cougars into overtime, tied at 0-0 and neither team was able to find the back of the cage in the extra period.
“An all-out battle in OT… what a game!” said Kearsarge head coach Dianne Chadwick.
Pickman played stellar in goal for the Cougars all game. On her goalie, Chadwick said, “She put on such a show today… she is incredible and is such an athlete… she really saved the day with 23 saves. Jordan Pollard was also phenomenal on defense, as was Hannah Tockman. Abby Nadeau and Chase Lennon played terrific offensively.”
“I am very pleased with the outcome,” said Stevens head coach Patty Deschaine. “We had the opportunities more in the second half and it was pretty even back and forth in overtime… very proud of our team.”
Stevens will play host to Mascoma at 6 p.m. on Tuesday while Kearsarge will host Franklin on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
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