Bridgewater, Mass. – The third-seeded Plymouth State University field hockey team, who beat second-seeded Keene State College the day before, faced off against top-seeded Bridgewater State in the final game of the 2012 ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey Tournament this past Sunday.
The Bears got on the board early when junior Carissa Vizakis (Bellingham, Mass.) was able to secure a rebound and fire it in to the back of the net to make it 1-0. Vizakis scored again a few later, this time on an open net to make it 2-0.
Plymouth State finally got on the board when sophomore midfielder Nikki Gravey (Canaan, N.H.) knocked the ball out of midair on a cross from junior Jackie Morin (Scarborough, Maine) to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Bridgewater State wasted little time getting their advantage back after a goal by Demi Miskiv (Centerville, Mass.) to make it 3-1.
The Panthers started to come alive late in the period, however. Junior midfielder Lauren Carroll (Rollinsford, N.H.) scored unassisted at 41:53 to make it 3-2. With less than five minutes remaining to play, Jackie Morin was able to score the equalizer off a penalty corner to tie the game and send it in to OT.
The Bears had a great opportunity to win the game only a minute into the overtime period on a two-on-one situation, but PSU junior goaltender Hilary Lemelin (Milan, N.H.) was able to stifle any offensive chance.
Senior forward Olivia Colborn (Lancaster, N.H.) finally ended it after she fired off a shot that found a way through the Bears defenders and the screened goalie for the goal and to secure the ECAC championship trophy!
Colborn would be the awarded the honor of the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her play both in the game against Bridgewater, and the game the day before against Keene State in which she scored both of the Panthers two goals in the win.
The Panthers end the season with a final record of 13-7. Congratulations on a job well done, Ladies!