Heartbreaker: Clark tips field hockey with 47 seconds left in overtime

Mount Holyoke's defense limited Clark University to six shots in a 1-0 overtime loss at home on Sept. 30, 2023. (RJB Sports file photo)
Mount Holyoke's defense limited Clark University to six shots in a 1-0 overtime loss at home on Sept. 30, 2023. (RJB Sports file photo)

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- With less than a minute remaining in sudden victory overtime, Clark University's Ciaran Cubbage batted in a lofted shot by Elizabeth Cacciapaglia to lift the visiting Cougars to a 1-0 NEWMAC win over the Mount Holyoke College field hockey team on Saturday afternoon on the MHC Turf.

The game-ending goal came on the final penalty corner of the game, directly following an injury timeout for a Mount Holyoke player. Jenna Beauchain inserted the ball to Cacciapaglia on the left wing, and the sophomore defender scooped the ball high in the air toward the goal. Cubbage waved at the ball and got a small piece of it, tipping it past Mount Holyoke junior goalkeeper Rachel Katzenberg (Reisterstown, Md.) to end the game in shocking fashion.

Mount Holyoke was playing with a player disadvantage due to a green card issued with 2:33 remaining in the overtime period. Earlier in the overtime period, Clark also drew a green card and played a player down for two minutes.

The game was evenly played throughout, and neither side allowed the other many scoring opportunities. Mount Holyoke attempted nine of the 16 shots in the game, putting three shots on goal. The Lyons also had an 8-5 advantage in penalty corners.

Katzenberg made a diving save on a would-be goal by Rachael Romain in the second quarter, and another sprawling save on a shot by Cubbage directly before the game-ending penalty corner.

For Clark, Loren Root made three saves to earn the shutout.

Graduate student Laurissa Montigny (Enfield, Conn.), senior Amanda Thibodeau (Lebanon, N.H.), and sophomore Anna Induni (Manchester, N.H.) all put shots on net for Mount Holyoke.

Clark rises to 13-19 against Mount Holyoke in their all-time series.

Both teams will play NEWMAC games on Tuesday at 7pm, with Mount Holyoke hosting Springfield and Clark hosting Smith.