Williams Falls to Messiah in Double-Overtime of NCAA Field Hockey Tournament

Courtesy Williams Sports Information

EWING TOWNSHIP, N.J. - The Williams College field hockey team suffered a heartbreaking end to its season Friday, dropping a 3-2, double-overtime decision to Messiah College in a NCAA Tournament second round game at the College of New Jersey.

"Your last game of the season should be your best game of the season and it certainly was for us," Ephs head coach Alix Rorke said. "I'm not disappointed in the way we played, we did some nice things out there. I thought it was a hard-fought battle, and I hope it's something we can learn from and move forward."

The Ephs finished the season at 13-4. Messiah improved to 16-4 overall and will face TCNJ (17-2) Saturday in the regional final for the right to advance to the championship round.
The score was tied at two at the end of regulation and the first 15-minute overtime period. Messiah came out strong at the start of the second overtime and Williams senior goalkeeper Emily Wasserman made a save on a shot by Lindsey Hunter to keep the game going.

Minutes later, a ball was played outside the circle toward the Williams goal. The ball entered the cage, and it appeared no player had touched it, according to Rorke. One official called it no goal, and another called it a goal. After a brief conference, the goal was allowed to stand and Messiah's Emily Sauder was credited with it.

"It was a tough way to lose, but give credit to Messiah, they are a team that is used to winning, and a team which is used to being in these situations," Rorke said. "It was just a really tight game, we played well, and they played well."

The second half was a back-and-forth affair. Messiah tied it just 3:18 in as Lindsey Hunter converted a pass from Lynn Sandowich, but the Ephs regained the lead when senior Cathleen Clark scored her first goal of the season 10:22 later off a pass from senior Ashley Sewell.
Messiah knotted the game at two with just 13:55 to go when Lindsay Garber scored off an assist from Sauder. Williams had a myriad of scoring opportunities late but could not convert as rookie Messiah goalkeeper Ashley Mowery made six second-half saves.

At the end of regulation, the Ephs held a 29-9 advantage in shots and a 16-5 edge in penalty corner opportunities.

Messiah controlled the first OT session, and Wasserman came up big with several spectacular saves. After needing to make only three in regulation, Wasserman stopped six shots in the first overtime session alone.

"She was unbelievable," Rorke said. "I was very impressed, she has the uncanny ability to step up when the pressure is the greatest - that's when she's at her best."

Williams led 1-0 at halftime despite outshooting Messiah 18-5 over the first 35 minutes. Sophomore Jess Overlander gave the Ephs that one-goal advantage at the 21:10 mark when she scored her 11th goal of the season off an assist from sophomore Meighan McGowan.
The loss marked the final game for Williams seniors Wasserman, Clark, Sewell, Rebecca Allen and Ali Raizin.

"I am sad to see the seniors go," Rorke said. "They worked very hard during their careers and we will miss them."