Loretto, Pa. – The Saint Francis field hockey team picked up its first win of the season in overtime, 3-2, against Davidson on Friday. This win also gives the Red Flash a 1-0 start in conference play.
In a match as thrilling as it gets, Saint Francis defeated Davidson on an overtime goal by freshman Sharon Kereke (Harare, Zimbabwae/Deerfield Academy) just two and a half minutes into the period.
In the first quarter, Saint Francis outshot Davidson 4-3, but the Wildcats scored the only goal to lead 1-0.
The second quarter belonged to the Red Flash. Outshooting Davidson 7-2 in the period, Saint Francis finally broke through on a beautiful goal from junior captain Kellie Drugotch (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge). Carysse Norris (Narvon, Pa./Garden Spot) found Agustina Deharbe (Buenos Aires, Argentina/St. Catherine's Moorlands), who then found Drugotch breaking towards the net, ready to capitalize on great passing by the Red Flash. The score stayed nodded at one after the first half.
The third quarter did not feature any goals but saw Davidson outshoot Saint Francis, 4-3.
In the fourth quarter, the Red Flash found itself down one for the second time in the match after a Davidson goal with seven minutes and 55 seconds left to play. Unfazed, the offense continued to build chemistry and make the right passes, resulting in a Taylor Nesmith (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) goal just one minute and 44 seconds later on a well-executed penalty corner. Taylin Lehman (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) took the corner pass from Samantha Olton (Diego Martin, Trinidad/Providence Girls Catholic) and set Nesmith up for a rocket of a shot to beat the goalie. Shortly after, regulation time expired and the teams prepared for overtime.
In overtime, Kereke had plenty of space breaking down the left side of the field, but her initial shot was saved by Davidson goalkeeper Sarah Zeszotarski. Kereke stayed on the ball, though, scoring on the rebound that came right back to her.
Kereke's first collegiate goal was her last of six total shots (4 SOG), which led the offense. Drugotch's goal was her first of the season. Nesmith tallied her fourth.
On defense, the Red Flash got another impressive performance by goalkeeper Claudia Marzec (Whitinsville, Mass./Moses Brown School), who finished the match stopping eight of 10 shots, four of which came in the fourth quarter.
Drugotch, who has battled an early-season injury, played 40 minutes – her highest this season. She was proud of her team's effort against the Wildcats:
"It's been a long time coming to pick up this first win. This is the happiest we've felt so far this season. We have a long season ahead of us, but to start A-10 1-0 means a lot. The fact that we could come back from behind two times today and finish this game says a lot. Early in the season we got too down if the other team went up, but now we know how to finish a game and we want to carry that with us."
Up next for the Red Flash is a nonconference match at DeGol Field on Sunday at noon, when they will host the Central Michigan Chippewas.
