Box Score Henniker, N.H. New England College's
Cody Kent (Rye, N.H.) would net the game-winning goal just 2:17 into the first overtime lifting the Pilgrim field hockey team past the visiting Clark University Cougars 2-1 Sunday afternoon.
With the win the Pilgrims even their overall record at 1-1, the loss is the first of the season for the Cougars who are now 0-1.
Clark would open the scoring 11:45 into the game as Maria Manning (Manchester, N.H.) would convert on a Cougar penalty stroke. Manning would have an opportunity to extend the Clark lead to two goals in the 23rd minute with her second penalty stroke of the game but NEC keeper
Courtney Duquette (Enfield, N.H.) would come up with a huge stick save preserving the one goal deficit.
NEC would notch the game at 1-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half as
Kristen O'Connell (Melrose, Mass.) would score the Pilgrims' first goal of the season assisted by
Patricia Wright (Essex, Mass.).
The two teams would battle through the second half scoreless as NEC's Duquette would come up huge late in regulation turning away two Cougar penalty strokes in the final five minutes of play.
NEC would escape a couple early overtime scoring opportunities from Clark before Kent would come through for the Pilgrims putting in a shot from O'Connell that would deflect off a Cougar defender.
Duquette picked up the win in net for the Pilgrims finishing the game with an impressive 20 saves.
Clark finished the game with the 25-2 advantage in shots and the 13-7 advantage in corners.
NEC returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 3 as they host non-conference opponent Wellesley College. Clark will hit the field on Saturday, Sept. 7 when they host non-conference opponent Becker College.