WORCESTER, Mass. - The Holy Cross field hockey team clinched a spot in the Patriot League playoff for the first time since 2020 by defeating American, 2-1 in a shootout, Sunday afternoon at the Hart Turf Field.
Holy Cross improves to 8-5 (3-2 PL) on the season, while American moves to 9-6 (3-2 PL).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In a tightly contested first quarter, neither team was able to find the back of the net. American held the slight edge in shots, 4-3, and drew the lone penalty corner of the opening frame.
- Junior Ava Huntley opened the scoring for both sides, getting ahead of the Eagles' defense and receiving a pass on the move by freshman Marianna MacLean. Huntley received the ball on her backhand and sent a reverse chip that banked off the crossbar and into the goal for the 1-0 lead.
- The lead held for 8:10 of play before American was awarded a penalty stroke, which they converted on.
- The third and fourth quarters were just as closely contest as the first, with American registering just one shot in each quarter, and the Crusaders' two shots coming in the fourth. Each team drew a penalty corner opportunity in the fourth.
- Despite the Eagles keeping possession for the majority of the overtime period, American registered just one shot on goal and one penalty corner opportunity.
- In the shootout, sophomore Kendall Brady scored first for Holy Cross, followed by a save by junior Mia McCloskey. MacLean netted her attempt, followed by a conversion by the Eagles. Sophomore Rachel Egan was stopped by the American netminder in the third round, while American converted on their attempt to tie the shootout at 2-2.
- Senior Maguire Sturgis converted on her attempt in the fourth round, while McCloskey made a huge stop to hold the 3-2 lead. Freshman Abby Kent proved to be the hero, netting her attempt in the fifth round to clinch the win and the spot in the Patriot League playoff.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- McCloskey recorded two saves in regulation and overtime, and two in the shootout.
- Kent recorded a defensive save during American's penalty corner opportunity with 9:21 to play in regulation, preserving the tie. The defensive save was her third of the season.
- The win marked just the second for Holy Cross over American since 2002 - with the last one coming on Oct. 9, 2022, a 1-0 win at the Hart Turf Field.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross will travel to Hamilton, N.Y. to face Colgate for its final game of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 31.
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