SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – First-year
Freja Morris tipped home her first collegiate goal 3:22 into overtime to cap a thrilling late-game comeback and send the Union College field hockey team to a 4-3 (OT) victory over Hartwick College in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
Morris' game-winner capped a huge comeback for the Garnet Chargers, who trailed 2-0 early in the third quarter and 3-1 with less than four minutes remaining in regulation before turning up the offensive attack.
Senior
Maddie Greco started the comeback with her third goal of the year 1:49 into the fourth quarter, putting home the rebound of a corner attempt by sophomore
Lily Durivage. However, Hartwick (1-3) seemingly took back control thanks to Katelyn Klotz's second of the afternoon with 6:34 left that put the Hawks up 3-1.
The ball rarely left the Hartwick defensive zone after that, as Union ratcheted up the offensive pressure. Greco made it a one-goal game with 3:55 to go when she cleaned up a scramble in front of the Hawks net following a penalty corner for her 14th career multi-goal outing. The home team pulled its goalie soon after to increase the attack, and the move paid off when junior
Rowan Dapson took a Greco corner attempt, spun around a defender, and fired a rocket into the net to tie the score a three with 2:45 remaining.
After Union (3-1) killed off an untimed penalty corner to end regulation, the home team again tilted the field in their favor during overtime. After getting the ball in the defensive zone, two passes quickly got the ball into the offensive third for senior
Rachel Ostiguy, who cut past a defender and fired a shot from the edge of the arc that Morris tipped through the legs of goalie Ava Reynolds and just over the goal line for the game-winner.
Union outshot Hartwick by a 17-4 margin, including a 10-1 advantage in the fourth quarter and overtime, and doubled up the Hawks on penalty corners, 14-7. Junior
Tess Parker made one save in 40:51 of action to start the game, while senior
Marion Stuntz came on in relief and earned the win playing 21:48 to close out the afternoon.
The Garnet Chargers will head on the road this Saturday, traveling to William Paterson University for a 1 p.m. matchup.
