MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Senior Kirsten Kilburn fired home a low shot from just inside the circle on the left side 8:40 into overtime to complete a three-point night and make an instant 2-1 winner of visiting Mount Holyoke over homestanding Wesleyan in field hockey action on Tuesday evening.
With the victory, Mount Holyoke, ranked 18th nationally in Division III, improved to 6-1 on the season while Wesleyan dropped to 2-5. Wesleyan owns a 26-8-2 edge in the long-standing series as the teams have played each other 36 straight seasons, but the Lyons have captured the last two games, both by one goal.
Kilburn, who upped her seasonal point total to 10 on two goals and six assists, assisted on the Lyons' initial goal after the teams played scoreless through the first half. Taking a backhanded sweep shot from the top of the circle after a penalty corner insertion by sophomore Charlotte Wagner, Kilburn got her shot on net but it was saved by the pads of Cardinal keeper junior Sara Grundy. The rebound went to the left into a maze of players and junior Julia Bell got it first for Mount Holyoke and knocked the loose ball into the net 4:39 into the second half. Bell had scored the lone goal in Mount Holyoke's 1-0 victory in South Hadley, Mass. against Wesleyan a year ago.
Wesleyan then went on a barrage of 11 straight shots over a span of about 25 minutes, including the tying goal by junior Caitlin Majewski with 14:02 left in regulation. A shot by senior Vanessa Block was turned aside by the Lyon defense to the right of the cage. Wesleyan senior Lilah Fones got a touch to push it back toward the middle and Majewski finished off the scoring play with her first goal of the season.
Wesleyan ended the game with a 17-10 margin in total shots and an 11-6 margin in penalty corners, including two during overtime. Lyons goalie sophomore Liz DiCesare came up with six saves in the contest while Grundy was good for four stops.
Next up for Wesleyan is a home NESCAC game with Hamilton Sat., Sept. 27. Mount Holyoke returns to action Saturday as well with a NEWMAC matchup at Wellesley (12pm).
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Story courtesy of Brian Katten, Wesleyan Sports Information Director. Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography.
