Field Hockey Rallies From Two-Goal Deficit to Defeat Wellesley

Action photo of Lyons field hockey player Kristina Ramsden

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Mount Holyoke College senior Kristina Ramsden (Florence, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty corner with no time left in regulation to lift the Lyons to a 3-2 victory over Wellesley College in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) field hockey action on Saturday afternoon at the MHC Turf Field.

Mount Holyoke improves to 6-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play with the win. The Lyons have now won three straight contest versus Wellesley, who drops to 4-7 (1-4 NEWMAC) with the setback. Saturday's contest was the 11th straight one-goal game between the two rivals dating back to the 2012 NEWMAC quarterfinals.

Ramsden's eighth goal of the season, and second of the game, capped a furious Mount Holyoke rally that erased a two-goal deficit in the second half. The Lyons finished the contest with a 14-4 lead in shots after outshooting Wellesley 8-1 after the break. Mount Holyoke also had an 11-4 advantage in penalty corner chances in the game.

Wellesley senior Haley Chrobock (Branchville, N.J.) scored the game's first goal at 23:25 of the first half, finishing on an assist from classmate Rachel Hwang (Campbell, Calif.) to give the Blue a 1-0 lead. Wellesley doubled their lead after halftime, jumping ahead 2-0 when first year Julia Rappaport (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.) scored her fourth of the season on an unassisted effort at 46:40.

Rappaport's goal would come on Wellesley's only shot of the second half, as the Lyons controlled play late and pushed the action toward the Blue's defensive end of the field. Senior Colby Newsham (Harvard, Mass.) started the comeback at 48:07, scoring her second of the year on an unassisted effort to make the score 2-1. The Lyons later broke through with the game-tying goal at 62:40, when first year Margaret Robb (Summit, N.J.) set-up classmate Kylie Brooks (Oceanside, Calif.) to make the score 2-2 at 62:40.

With Wellesley unable to capitalize on a penalty corner at 65:56, Mount Holyoke earned an opportunity of their own at 69:47. Ramsden inserted the ball on the play before it found its way back to the MHC senior when Newsham pushed it her way during a scramble in front. Ramsden then fired a shot past Wellesley goalkeeper Maggie Connelly (Duxbury, Mass.) to give the Lyons the win with no time remaining.

Sophomore Maddie Miller (Marblehead, Mass.) earned the win (1-1) for the Lyons, coming on in relief of junior Morgan Turner (Chester, N.J.), who made one save in just under fifty minutes of action. Connelly (3-6 overall) made six saves in the cage for the Blue.

Mount Holyoke is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Simmons at 7:00pm. Wellesley is also in action Wednesday in a 5:00pm road game at Tufts.

Game release courtesy of Miles Roberts, Wellesley Director of Sports Information.