PAT LONGOBARDI — Sports Writer
In a matter of 35 seconds, the SCSU field hockey team scored two late goals and won a dramatic non-conference game over Saint Michael’s, 4-3.
Junior Erica Fisher tied the game, 3-3, and sophomore Sarah Cebry scored the game-winner with just about two minutes remaining.
Southern played three home games last week , going 2-1.
“We played well in the first half,” head coach Kelley Frassinelli said. “In the second half, we seemed tired and not a lot of depth.
Southern (2-3) took the early 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when Cebry scored after her own penalty corner, assisted by Paige Donlin. Saint Michael’s quickly pushed the ball down the field and tied it up, 1-1, when junior Kelly MacDonald scored, unassisted, in the 18th minute.
Southern then regained the 2-1 lead when junior Laurie Cockerline (Lopatcong, N.J.) scored off of a penalty corner in the 18th minute.
Southern held the lead going into halftime.
In the second half, Saint Michael’s was knocking on the door with many scoring chances but could not find a way to put the ball in the net.
Senior Jenny Boudrow had two key opportunities to score in the half. In the 42nd minute, Boudrow had a shot hit the post off of a penalty corner, and she hit another shot off of the left goal post in the 50th minute.
Saint Michael’s finally had things go their way, tying the game 2-2 and then taking the lead, 3-2. Junior Hali Roy hit a shot from almost 20 yards out, assisted to senior Taylor Wahrenbrock off of a penalty corner in the 55th minute.
Saint Michael’s took the lead in the 61st minute when senior Megan Hill scored, unassisted, on a second chance opportunity after a save on Boudrow’s shot.
Both teams then tightened up on defense. Saint Michael’s caught a bad break when Boudrow received a yellow card in the 67th minute. Southern then gained the momentum, and carried that for the rest of the game.
“We had better movement and we doubled better,” Frassinelli said.
Fisher (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) then scored on a slow, sailing shot into the net to tie the game, 3-3, assisted to Meghan Lahm. Cebry (Burlington, Conn.) then wasted no time regaining the lead, fighting for control of the ball and scoring almost 15 seconds later, assisted to Katy Williams.
Cebry led Southern with four points, two goals on five shots and now has three goals for the season. Fisher had two points, with one goal and one assist. Cockerline had two points with one goal.
MacDonald led Saint Michael’s with two points, one goal on three shots. Hill had two points on one goal. Roy had two points on one goal.
Sophomore Robin Donaldson made 13 saves, allowing three goals in 70 minutes. Senior Jackie Stacey made four saves, allowing four goals in 70 minutes.
Saint Michael’s outshot Southern, 23-11 in the game. Saint Michael’s had more penalty corners, 12-7.
Saint Michael’s (0-3) has had a difficult beginning to the year, including playing the top-two teams in the country (UMass-Lowell, Shippensburg) in two of their first three games.
Southern defeated Saint Michael’s 6-1 last season on Oct. 9 in New Haven. Southern will be at Saint Michael’s on Oct. 8.
