Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College field hockey team improved its Northeast Conference (NEC) to 5-1 on the season with an overtime victory of Saint Francis U on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Wagner clinched a spot in the 2024 NEC Postseason Tournament, that will be held on Wagner's campus on November 8 and November 10.
Prior to the game, six Seahawks were honored for their careers while on Grymes Hill: Devin Bailey, Karoline Policarpio, Sarah Trask, Rebecca Desiderio, Cami Valor, and Emma Lofstedt.
The Seahawks found themselves in their third consecutive overtime game at the Wagner College Field Hockey Complex. Previously, defeating Sacred Heart 2-1 on Friday, October 11 and then Stonehill 3-2 on Friday, October 18.Â
Against the Red Flash, the Seahawks scored the first two goals of the contest thanks to junior Pilar Lorenzini and sophomore Charlotte Muller. After a Saint Francis score midway through the second quarter, the Green & White held a 2-1 lead.
Wagner and Saint Francis traded goals in the third, as the Seahawks maintained a one goal lead heading into the final frame of regulation. In the third, freshman Evie de Baar scored her fourth of the year off of a Wagner counter-attack, assisted by sophomore Floortje Leunisse.
The Red Flash scored two straight goals to take the lead 4-3, with eight minutes remaining in the game.
With less than three minutes left, sophomore Natalie McGivern tied the contest at four a piece with a close shot as Leunisse collected her second assist of the contest.
Three minutes into the overtime period, de Baar pushed a pass across the cage for graduate student Cami Valor who patiently waited for the ball, and hit the back of the cage to secure the win.
In net, freshman Saar van Dalen earned her ninth win of the season by saving three shots throughout the game. On the season, van Dalen has saved 64 shots with a goals allowed average of 1.55 and a save percentage of 74.4%.
The Seahawks tied their season-high by scoring five goals. Earlier this year, Wagner scored five goals in a 5-0 win over NEC newcomer Mercyhurst.Â
As a team, Wagner took 18 shots, 12 on target, while earning 10 corner opportunities. On the other side, Saint Francis took 14 shots, eight on target, and received eight corner opportunities.
For the third consecutive game, the Seahawks have defeated an NEC opponent by scoring one goal in the first overtime period on Grymes Hill.
Next up, Wagner will travel to Merrimack for a conference matchup against the Warriors on Friday, October 25. Opening pass-back for that game is set to begin at noon.
Â
