Hofstra Upsets No. 20 Rutgers in OT
from press release
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Freshman Jill Maier
(Honeoye Falls, NY) scored off senior K'Leigh Vanaman's (Penn Yan,
NY) centering pass with 2:06 left in double-overtime, lifting
Hofstra to a 10-9 upset win over 20th-ranked Rutgers on Saturday
afternoon at rainy James M. Shuart Stadium.
The Pride battled back from a 7-4 deficit in the second half to
force overtime in improving to 4-2. Rutgers fell to 5-1 as the
Pride posted its first win over a nationally ranked opponent since
a victory over then No. 20 James Madison last season. The game
marked the fifth double-overtime game in program history.
Trailing 7-4 at the start of the second half, Hofstra outscored the
Scarlet Knights 4-1 in the second half. Senior Sandy Wasserbach
(Baltimore, MD) netted the tying goal with 47 seconds off a feed
from classmate Corrine Gandolfi (Smithtown, NY) to knot the score
at 8-8. Gandolfi passed off a free position attempt and found
Wasserbach at the crease for the score. Sophomore keeper Jackie
Pandolf (Holbrook, NY) preserved the tie with a save on the
doorstop as time expired in regulation.
Rutgers opened the scoring in the first overtime as Brooke Cantwell
scored on a free position shot 3:35 into the extra session.
Gandolfi responded with her second goal of the game at the 2:18
mark to make it 9-9.
Hofstra dominated the second overtime, peppering Rutgers keeper
Lily Kalata with four shots before Maier's game-winner.
Kalata made 15 saves on the day and looked sharp coming out of the
halftime break. The netminder held Hofstra scoreless for nearly 18
straight minutes and made a point-blank stick save on Stephanie
Rice's shot eight minutes into the second half.
But Pandolf, who relieved starter Mary Cuddihy (Manhasset, NY) in
the first half, kept the Pride competitive out of the break,
allowing Rutgers to score just once in the second half and
Hofstra's offense responded with a late rally. Hofstra senior
Ashley Jones (Ellicott City, MD) netted the opening goal of the
second half, cutting Rutgers' edge to 7-5 with 17:35 left. Almost
two minutes later, Jackie Ardolino (Shirley, NY) blew a shot past
Kalata to make it a one-goal game, prompting Rutgers to call a time
out.
The respite allowed Rutgers to regroup and make it 8-6 when
Stephanie Anderson teamed with sister Kristen Anderson for the
Scarlet Knights' only goal of the final half at 14:30.
Gandolfi registered her team-leading 15th goal with 5:53 left,
taking Vanaman's centering pass to make it 8-7. Gandolfi didn't
score the next goal but worked to set up the opportunity when she
drew the foul on Rebecca Alley in the final minute. Gandolfi then
passed to Wasserbach with her free position chance and the
midfielder scored her fourth goal of the season.
Rutgers built an early two-goal lead after allowing a Courtney
O'Connor (Abington, PA) goal 53 seconds in. Cantwell and Lindsey
Watts scored back-to-back goals for Rutgers and after a Vanaman
tally, Marlena Welsh and Kristen Anderson scored to once again put
Rutgers up by two at 4-2.
Vanaman finished with a game-high four points on two goals and two
assists, while Gandolfi finished with two goals and an assist.
O'Connor had two goals, while Maier finished with a goal and an
assist. Vanaman and Gandolfi each posted a game-high six ground
balls and added four and three draw controls, respectively. Pandolf
finished with three saves for the Pride.
Welsh, Cantwell and Kristen Anderson each scored twice for the
Scarlet Knights.
