Sept. 19, 2009

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - Junior Kellie Walter scored her first goal of the season 1:41 into the second overtime to give the Saint Joseph's field hockey team its first win of the season, a 5-4 double-overtime triumph over Missouri State. Sophomore goalkeeper Liz Messaros played 38 minutes in relief and earned her first career victory, making three saves.

Saint Joseph's (1-5) earned a penalty corner opportunity just 90 seconds into the second extra frame. Senior Anne Schreuders let fly with a blast from the top of the arc that hit the post, but Walter was there to smash home the rebound and send the Hawks home winners.

Missouri State (2-6) opened the scoring in the sixth minute as Alyssa Hile slapped a loose ball past starter Kelly Swanick for a 1-0 lead. Theresa Testa tallied her first career goal three minutes later on a penalty corner goal assisted by Walter and Jenn Schultz.

MSU would sneak ahead once again with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half when Melissa Lantz scored a goal off a penalty corner opportunity.

SJU took its first lead of the day less than two minutes later after a pair of quick strikes. After the ball came loose in front of the MSU cage, Ellen Rowe notched her third goal of the year to tie the score, 2-2. Just 48 seconds later, Kasey Daly sent a pass to Hannah Rogers on a give-and-go. Rogers put the ball in the back of the cage for a 3-2 Hawk lead.

Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, the Bears would knot it up right before halftime as Kristen Pettey deflected a shot past Swanick with just four ticks left on the clock.

Pettey notched her second of the game 5:31 into the second stanza after Swanick made a point-blank save on her initial attempt. Pettey scooped up the rebound and scored to give the Bears a one-goal lead.

Schreuders would equalize for the Hawks with 11:11 showing on the clock when she dribbled into the arc and lifted a shot over a diving Steph Anderson. Anderson had stopped five Hawk attempts in the previous three minutes before Schreuders broke through.

Saint Joseph's managed to put three shots on goal in the first overtime against just one for Missouri State. Neither team was able to score, leading to a second overtime and Walter's heroics.

Despite the closeness of the scoreline, the Hawks dominated the stat sheet, outshooting the Bears 29-11 and earning 16 penalty corners to just two for MSU. However, Anderson stood tall in the cage, making a whopping 19 saves to keep her squad in the game.

SJU will return to Lakeside Field tomorrow for a 1:00 p.m. matchup with the home-standing Northwestern Wildcats.