Wildcats Defeat Raiders 4-3 in First Home Victory
LONGMEADOW, Mass.—Bay Path College sophomore forward Deanna Flagg (Enfield, Conn.) led the Wildcats with two goals as they defeated the Raiders of Rivier College 4-3 in their first ever home victory in the program's three year history. The Wildcats also broke a school record with four goals and two wins in a season today at Ryan Field in NCAA DIII field hockey action.
Despite having injuries and playing a man down for five minutes in the first half due to a small roster size today, the Wildcats were able to hold onto the lead after the half.
Flagg struck first for Bay Path scoring off a rebounded shot after senior forward Jessica Priestly (Middleboro, Mass.) drew sophomore keeper Nicole Hauswirth (Cranston, R.I.) out of the box. Priestly then passed it inside for the assist at 6:34 on the clock.
Rivier answered back ten minutes later when senior forward Erin Gatsas (Manchester, N.H.) shelled the ball from 15 yds back to freshman Tristina Douilette (Webster, N.H) who tallied the goal to knot the game.
Priestly scored three minutes later off a cross inside by sophomore Elizabeth Barclay (Auburn, Maine) to regain the lead 2-1 heading into the break.
The Raiders' sophomore Kristen Tyler (Thornton, N.H.) would again return the call scoring at the 39th minute. Tyler shellacked the ball off a penalty corner from sophomore forward Ashley Ruocco (East Kingston, N.H.).
Flagg would net her third goal on the season and second in the game at 48:11 on the clock, becoming the first player to score multiple times in a single game. Freshman midfielder Ruth Choate (Lewiston, Maine) had the assist.
Choate would then recover and score in the 55th minute of play off a deflected shot. This would mark her first collegiate goal and the game winner.
Rivier would strike last in a final attempt to tie the game. Freshman forward Cora Healy (Bedford, N.H.) would take a quick pass from freshman midfielder Hilary Bouchard (Wells, Maine) after a deflected shot.
Senior goalie Kim Barbato (Saylorsburg, Penn.) earned the win facing 12 shots, including nine on goal, with five saves. Hauswirth suffered the loss seeing 21 shots, 18 shots on goal and notching ten saves.
Bay Path improves to 2-6 on the season, while Rivier is now 1-8 overall. The Wildcats will host NECC foe Becker College on October 16th at 1:00 p.m.
