Indiana University
Northeastern
No. 11 Hoosiers Down Northeastern, 2-1, in Overtime
10/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 14, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 11 Indiana field hockey team improved to 13-2 overall (3-0 Big Ten) with a thrilling, 2-1, overtime win over Northeastern on Oct. 14 at Mellencamp Pavilion. Led by scores from senior midfielder Rachel Telian and junior forward Kate O'Connell, Indiana claimed its third overtime win of the season.
"I think our team rose to the occasion once again," Indiana head coach Amy Robertson said. "We've faced a lot of adversity this week, but we stayed focused and were able to pick up the win today. This team has a lot of character. We were against the ropes, but we played as a team, responded maturely and showed a lot of poise and determination."
Defense characterized the first half with neither team able to score. Virtually even throughout the first period, Northeastern slightly outshot the IU, 5-2, while both teams earned two penalty corners.
For the first half, all five of the Huskies' shots were saved by junior goalkeeper Haley Exner, while both of Indiana's shots were taken off corners from Telian.
The beginning of the second period look much like the first with both teams battling for possession in the midfield.
The Hoosiers' offense gained momentum midway through the second half, as Indiana put the first points in the board in the 56th minute. Junior midfielder Margie Stoll drove into the circle to draw the Hoosiers' third corner of the game setting up the 1-0 lead.
Telian netted her first goal of the season and the second of her career, scoring off the direct shot on the corner. Junior midfielder Meredith Brown and senior forward Lydia Schrott were credited with the assists.
With less than a minute remaining in regulation, the Huskies scored the equalizer with four seconds remaining. Northeastern earned back-to-back corners with second remaining. After a diving save from Exner on the second penalty corner shot, NU's Ashley Webber was in position to tap the ball in to knot the score at 1-1, forcing overtime for the third time this season for IU.
The Hoosier dominated the overtime period on the offensive side of the ball, taking three shots in the extra period.
In the 74th minute, sophomore back Danitra Castro found O'Connell on the long cross from the far right side of the field. O'Connell converted Castro's pass into the game winner with a behind-the-back tap for her ninth goal of the season and the 2-1 victory. The score is the St. Louis, Mo., native's second game-winning goal of the season.
For the game, Northeastern took 10 shots to IU's eight. Exner notched an impressive eight saves for the contest, including one clutch stop in overtime. Telian led the Hoosiers in shots with three.
Indiana returns to Mellencamp Pavilion for its final time this season to host No. 20 Michigan and maintain its perfect conference record (3-0). Game time is slated for 1 p.m., and the IU seniors April Levins, Morgan Miller, Schrott and Telian will be honored before the game.
