PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- The Elmira College field hockey team recovered from a one-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but the visitors from Nazareth College potted the game-winner in the extra session for a 2-1 Empire 8 Conference win on Saturday afternoon at the Murray Athletic Center.

Prior to the contest, the Soaring Eagles held a Class of 2020 Recognition Day ceremony to honor seniors Emily Selbert '20 and Tina O'Donnell '20, who suited up for the last home game of their four-year careers.

The Golden Flyers opened the game's scoring in the third quarter, as the Nazareth offense took advantage of a two-minute green card assessed to EC's Sarah Griffith '23 in the 34th minute. With the extra attacker, it took only 22 seconds for Alexandra Livesey to find Caroline Desautels, as Naz pulled ahead 1-0.

Although they were down, the Soaring Eagles were not out. Elmira's offense came to life in the fourth quarter, as the EC women produce nine of their game-high 14 total shots and five of their six penalty corners in the last 15 minutes of regulation. Less than two minutes into the period, tic-tac-toe passing from Griffith to Kelsie Aloi '21 and Janie Kempf '21 produced the tying goal. Griffith dribbled down the right-wing side and connected with Aloi inside the arc, who then centered the ball to Kempf. The junior from New Woodstock, New York, needed one touch to settle the ball before rocketing a shot into the upper right corner of the cage.

O'Donnell and the Elmira defense withstood heavy pressure in the opening minutes of overtime, as the officials awarded Nazareth a series of three consecutive penalty corners. After flipping field position, the Soaring Eagles were given a corner of their own. On the play, Selbert unloaded on an outside shot, but Naz keeper Amanda Chuttey dropped to her knees to make a blocker save.

After six minutes and 20 seconds of overtime, the Golden Flyers found the back of the cage for a second time. A pass near the right post drew O'Donnell off of her line, giving Jennifer Hilts enough room to tap a slow-rolling shot just out of her reach towards the far post.

News and Notes

• Eight of Elmira's 15 games played in 2019 have been decided by one goal.
• The Soaring Eagles are 1-3 games that went to overtime this season.
• Kempf, Aloi, and Frankie Puglisi '23 each recorded a team-high-tying two shots on goal against Nazareth.
• Kempf tied a single-season career-high with her ninth goal of the year.
• Kempf extended her team lead in points to 22.
• Aloi's assist was her third of the year, upping her point total of 17, second-most on the team and a single-season career-high.
• O'Donnell made seven saves in 66:20 minutes of action in her finale start on the grass at the MAC.

Up Next
The 2019 season finale will pit the Soaring Eagles against The Sage Colleges on Friday, November 1. The Empire 8 matchup, which will be held at the University at Albany, is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.