NASHUA, N.H. – The New England College field hockey team earned its eighth win of the season and evened its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) record at .500 with an overtime victory over Rivier University on Wednesday night.
It took just three and a half minutes for the Pilgrims to take the lead in the first period. After the Raiders lost possession in their defensive zone, senior Kacey McClay (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) passed the ball to junior Kennedy Overhoff (Whitefield, N.H.), who scored through the goalkeeper's legs to give NEC a 1-0 advantage.
Rivier responded with just over four minutes remaining in the first period, as Lexi Davies fired a shot past senior Annie Raduazzo (Amherst, N.H.) to tie the game at 1-1.
The Pilgrims regained the lead early in the second period. Following a free hit awarded to Rivier near the top of the circle, McClay intercepted the pass and carried the ball forward on a two-on-three break. She found senior Kylee Henriquez (Methuen, Mass.) in front of the goal, where Henriquez scored while falling to the ground to put NEC ahead, 2-1.
Raduazzo kept the Raiders off the scoreboard for the remainder of the first half, saving all three shots on goal in the second period.
Following halftime, NEC continued to apply pressure, with senior Kameryn Mazzulli (Waterford, Conn.) recording three shots following three penalty corners. Rivier managed just one shot in the period, which sailed wide of the goal.
Two minutes into the fourth period, Camdyn Despres scored for the Raiders off an assist from Davies to even the score at 2-2. The Pilgrims responded with five shots in the period, including three on goal, but neither team found the go-ahead goal in regulation.
NEC wasted little time securing the victory in overtime. After the Pilgrims gained possession to start the extra period, Henriquez carried the ball toward the 23-meter line before passing to McClay on the left side. McClay beat her defender and sent the ball between two Rivier defenders to Henriquez who pulled her stick back and pushed the ball through Sophia Quinlan's legs. As Tatum Flanagan moved toward the post, the ball slipped past her and into the back of the net, giving NEC the 3-2 overtime victory just 14 seconds into the extra period.
NEC finished with nine shots on goal to Rivier's eight, while Raduazzo recorded six saves. Mazzulli led the Pilgrims with eight total shots, Henriquez recorded four shots on goal, and McClay contributed four shots and all three assists.
The Pilgrims return home on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. to face Dean College in a rematch of the 2025 GNAC Semifinals. The contest will also serve as NEC's Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Game.
For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
