Wesleyan University

CLINTON, N.Y. – The No. 13 ranked Wesleyan field hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision in overtime to No. 11 Hamilton on Goodfriend Field on Saturday. The Cardinals (5-3, 2-3 NESCAC) see their two-game win streak snapped while this marks the second overtime NESCAC defeat of the year for Wesleyan.
 
A scoreless first quarter saw the Cardinals overcome two penalty corners for Hamilton in the frame, but the Continentals broke through on a penalty corner midway through the second quarter to take a 1-0 lead. Cordelia Thomas controlled the ball in the middle of a scrum in front of cage and passed to Olivia Waruch who redirected the ball inside the right post.
 
Wesleyan's response was swift as the Cardinals generated their first penalty corner of the game and Leila Feldman '28 pounced with her second goal in as many games to tie the score just one minute after the Waruch marker.
 
The Cardinals applied heavy pressure throughout the remainder of the second quarter, getting three more penalty corners and firing three shots, none of which found the back of the cage as the score was 1-1 at the half.
 
Hamilton's goalkeeper Kelly Janssen was outstanding in the third quarter, making three of her 10 saves in the third quarter alone. Wesleyan held a 6-0 advantage in shots in the third quarter, but couldn't get one past Janssen.
 
Just two shots combined were attempted in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic overtime end to this NESCAC clash.
 
Wesleyan had a penalty corner just 37 seconds into overtime, but Janssen came up with big stops on Brooke Miner '28 and Patel to extend the game. Then Kenna White stepped in front of a pass in the Hamilton defensive end and dribbled the full length of the field, beating several Cardinal defenders, before flicking a shot past Keira O'Flynn '29 who came off her line to challenge White in the circle.
 
The Cardinals finished with a 17-12 edge in shots and 11-4 margin in shots on goal. Hamilton led in penalty corners 9-7.
 
After playing away from home for six of the first eight games of the season, Wesleyan starts a five-game homestand on Wednesday with a 6 PM start against Union on Hicks Field.