FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Field Hockey team picked up a dramatic home 3-2 win over Converse in overtime on Saturday.
The first quarter would be a back-and-forth fifteen minutes with minimal chances for either side. CU took the first two shots within the first five minutes in that were both deflected in front of goal. The Valkyries then were able to get a chance off a corner that was blocked, while at the other end FSU had back-to-back corners, though neither produced a shot. Frostburg's defense held firm for the final two minutes of the period, as one more effort was shut down while another two corners came to nothing for a scoreless first.
FSU would get a better share of possession in the start of the second earning an early corner but not being able to generate a shot. Converse was able to work their way up the field and get a corner of their own. Edith Swaan took a shot off a deflection that was excellently cleared off the line by senior Morgan Sparks, as in the ensuing scramble, the Bobcats were whistled for a foul resulting in a penalty stroke. Cameran Huyett stepped up and fired past freshman keeper Jenna Yazzetti to get the visitors on the board first.
Frostburg looked for an immediate response, as senior Emma Price was denied by Valkyrie goalkeeper Alina Puentes, then freshman Izzy Gibbons had a shot blocked. Gibbons nearly tied things up with eight minutes to go until the half, being played through on goal following a giveaway at the back, however Puentes was equal to her. FSU ramped up the pressure, with Gibbons firing wide before receiving three consecutive penalty corners, however none produced an effort as the half ended with CU up 1-0.
Seeking some early pressure in the third, the Bobcats worked the ball into the arc, where Gibbons had a great chance just in front of goal but put her shot high. Swaan had a pair of opportunities for the Valkyries at the other end, deflecting the first one wide before forcing a fantastic save from Yazzetti. The final seven minutes of the period went by with neither team producing another shot, taking the game into the fourth.
After three minutes without much action, senior Mikyla Rineer did extremely well to keep a loose pass in play, as the ball was eventually bounced around the box before falling to sophomore Ava Shorkey, who fired a perfectly-placed shot into the left corner of the goal to knot things up at 1-1. The Bobcat defense shut down a pair of Converse corners five minutes later, as neither side could find the breakthrough before the horn sounded, sending things to overtime.
The extra frame was all FSU at the start, with Rineer getting the ball inside the arc right away and forcing a Puentes save, followed by Shorkey also being denied and the former firing the wrong side of the post. Off a penalty corner, sophomore Sabrina Maldonado tried to find the bottom right corner but didn't have enough power on the shot to beat Puentes, then Rineer was thwarted once again. Still keeping possession, senior Sofia Boyle dribbled around the circle and eventually found sophomore Caroline Earnshaw, who thought she netted the winner but was denied by a goal-line save. In the follow-up, a penalty stroke was awarded to the Bobcats, with junior Taylor Korczynski step uping to take the shot, firing into the top left corner, giving Puentes no chance at a save and sending the bench to storm the field.
FSU held a 14-8 advantage in shots, with a 10-3 margin in efforts on target.
With the win Frostburg improves to 3-3 on the season, while Converse drops to 2-2. The Bobcats will play again Wednesday, September 23 when they host No. 1 Shippensburg at 4 PM. For more information please visit frostburgsports.com.
