Field Hockey Falls to Plymouth State in Overtime, 2-1

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore forward Kaitlyn Wilder (Framingham, Mass.) tallied the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the visiting Plymouth State University Panthers to a 2-1 victory over Bridgewater State University in Little East Conference field hockey action on Saturday afternoon at rainy Swenson Field.  The game marked the regular season finale for both teams.

The Panthers improve to 12-4 with the win and 9-2 in the Little East, while the host Bears slip to 8-10 overall and 6-5 in conference action.  Plymouth State is seeded second at next week's Little East Tournament which gets underway on Tuesday.  The Panthers will take on #7 University of Southern Maine in quarterfinal round play, while #5 Bridgewater State hits the road to face off against fourth-seeded Western Connecticut State University.

PSU senior forward Kristen Morris (Stoughton, Mass.) opened the scoring in the 13th minute as she tipped home a shot by classmate Nikki Garvey (Canaan, N.H.).  For Morris, the goal marked her ninth of the season.

The Bears knotted the score at 1-1 just over two minutes later when junior forward Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.) re-directed a shot by senior midfielder Alison Loranger (East Freetown, Mass.) for her fourth goal of the 2014 campaign.

The game remained deadlocked through regulation. The Panthers nearly potted the game-winner before time expired in the second half as senior forward Emily Davis (Boscawen, N.H.) rang a shot off the post with just one second left on the clock.

Wilder would provide the heroics midway though overtime as she stick-handled past a defender and beat the BSU netminder one-on-one with a shot inside the right post.  The goal was her 17th of the season tying Garvey for the team lead.

Plymouth State held a 15-4 shot advantage for the game and an 8-3 edge in penalty corners.

Freshman goaltender Alivia Bates (Pennsauken, N.J.) picked up her 12th win of the season between the pipes for the Panthers as she faced just one shot on frame.  BSU sophomore netminder Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) turned aside six shots, while senior defender Sarah Gendron (North Dighton, Mass.) also made a pair of defensive saves for the Bears.

Prior to the game the Bears honored seniors Gendron, Loranger and Cailin Flannery (Boxborough, Mass.). The three seniors were playing in their final regular season home game.