WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Catholic field hockey team collected its first win of the season in overtime against conference opponent Moravian 2-1.
The Greyhound's Gia Ambrosino scored early in the game, the 5th minute, putting immediate pressure on the Cardinals. Moravian was then awarded a penalty stroke in the 10th minute. The goalscorer Ambrosino stepped to the line, looking to increase the lead. Sophomore goalkeeperÂ
Ella Bowman reacted quickly to the shot to collect a save and keep Ambrosino from collecting a second goal.
In the second quarter, a penalty stroke played out in the safe fashion, Ambrosino at the line and Bowman in goal.Once again, Bowman made an incredible diving save to keep the Cardinals in the game. The third quarter had a lot of back-and-forth action, neither team able to put one in the back of the cage.
With just one quarter left in regular time, the Cardinals started to play fiercely, looking for ways to even the score. Catholic maintained possession for most of the 15 minutes, getting off a total of 7 shots and earning 6 penalty corners. In the 51st minute,
Lauren Keast drove the ball to the back of the cage and gave Catholic the equalizer.
Both teams were unable to score in the final minutes of regular time, sending the game to overtime. Keast,
Bella Reyes,
Katie Flynn,
Molly Romano, and
Caroline Caputo took to the field for the first sudden-death overtime, with Bowman in goal. In the 4th minute, goalkeeper Bowman made a diving save to keep the game alive. The Greyhounds looked to score with Bowman down, but
Caroline Cristella made an impressive defensive save. The Cardinals continued to maintain pressure with shots from
Anna Cusumano,
Maya Gutierrez-Flores, and
Tess Hake, but Moravian's goalkeeper Maia Machado kept the game tied as the first overtime concluded.
Once again, the Cardinals and Greyhounds took to the field to compete in a second and final sudden-death overtime. Catholic once again showed dominance in the midfield, maintaining possession and poking the ball off of Moravian's sticks. In the 77th minute,
Caroline Miller was able to take the ball up field, dodging her defenders. Teammate
MaryKate Ardizzi followed along, giving Miller an option for help. Miller passed the ball to the top of the circle to Ardizzi, who pulled the ball to her left side around her defender. With an open lane to the cage, the senior tomahawked the ball to the back of the cage, giving way to the first Catholic win of the season.
In today's win, Catholic earned season high penalty corners (15), goals (2), shots (22), and shots on goal (12).
Up next, the Cardinals travel to Baltimore, Md. to take on Goucher in a Landmark conference matchup on October 8th at 7 p.m.
