Gleason Goal in Overtime Sends Lasell Past NEC in Field Hockey

HENNIKER, N.H.(10/5/13) — Lasell College field hockey forward Ashley Gleason (Suffield, Conn.) would net the game-winner just 5:05 into the first overtime lifting the Lasers past the New England College Pilgrims 2-1 Saturday evening. 

With the win the Lasers improve to 6-5 overall and grab their first North Atlantic Conference (NAC) victory of the year improving to 1-1 in the conference.  With the loss the Pilgrims fall to 1-12 overall and 0-4 in the NAC.

The two teams would battle through a scoreless opening half of play as neither team would muster many shots on net as Lasell would hold the slight 5-2 advantage.

Lasell would break the scoring drought just three minutes into the second half as junior forward Nikita Soares (Westport, Mass.) would intercept a Pilgrim pass and take it in for her team-high seventh goal of the season.

NEC would have an answer just over two minutes later as junior Patricia Wright would clean up a loose ball in front of the net notching her second goal of the season and knotting the game at 1-1.

The game would remain tied at 1-1 throughout the remainder of the second half as both teams would have scoring opportunities late but neither would be able to convert.

Lasell would bring the offensive pressure early in the first overtime as Soares would have a breakaway just a minute into the period but NEC defender Amy Belanger (Whitefield, N.H.) would come up with a huge defensive save.

Picking up the win in net for Lasell was Taylor Sheehan (Brewster, Mass.) who finished with six saves.  NEC's keeper Courtney Duquette (Enfield, N.H.) recorded eight saves on the evening for the Pilgrims.

NEC returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 9 when they travel to take on in-state conference rival Colby-Sawyer College.  Lasell will hit the field on Wednesday, Oct. 9 as well as they host conference foe St. Joseph's College.