Rausch Propels No. 12 Field Hockey to 2-1 Overtime Win with Late Goal
DURHAH, N.H. – Senior forward Hayley Rausch (Severna, Md.) scored her second of two goals on the day just two minutes into overtime, leading the 12th-ranked University of New Hampshire field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Rutgers University Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field.
The Wildcats improve to 5-0 on the season, marking the squad's best start since 1984 when they kicked off the year a perfect 10-0. As for Rutgers, they drop their fourth straight game, falling to 1-4.
The Wildcats drew first blood in the contest when Whitney Frates (Woodstock, Vt.) drove the ball up the right side of the field and brought it into the circle, shifting a quick pass to Rausch who fired a one-timer into the left side of the goal at 25:11 of the first half.
Neither team could generate many scoring chances early in the second frame, until Nappi drove a ball into the circle and with UNH goalkeeper Katherine Nagengast (Westborough, Mass.) out of position, she fired a shot that nearly found its way into the goal, but Megan Bozek (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) made a fantastic defensive save, swatting the ball out of bounds to preserve the 1-1 tie in the 44th minute.
The 'Cats nearly broke the deadlocked tie with 4:40 remaining in regulation when Mary Quill (Portsmouth, N.H.) set up Casey Pohlmeyer (Millersville, Md.) with a clear shot at the goal from the top of the circle, but Stuby was able to turn it away.
Nagengast finished with three saves, while Stuby registered a game-high four for the visitors.
UNH outshot Rutgers 15-6 in the contest, including a 9-3 edge in the first frame. The Wildcats also held a 9-7 advantage over the Scarlet Knights in penalty corners.
The Wildcats return to action Sunday, Sept. 11 when they travel to Dartmouth College (3 p.m.) to take on the Big Green at Chase AstroTurf Field.
