Double-OT Goal Sends Fisher to Sweet Sixteen
The St. John Fisher College field hockey program advances to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Championship on Wednesday, as the Cardinals came through with a 2-1 win in double-overtime against visiting Rhodes College. This victory marks the first time in program history Fisher has won an NCAA contest as well.
With the win, Fisher improves to 19-2 overall and extends the nation's longest winning streak to 18 games. The Cardinals will now face host Babson College (19-2) at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Rhodes, out of Memphis, Tenn., finishes its season with a 15-3 record.
Alexandrea Malley scored the game winning goal for Fisher. It was the senior's first goal of the year and just the second in 81 games over her four-year career. With just over two minutes into the second overtime,
Lauren Fazio took a long shot from the top of the arc and Malley deflected it into the bottom right corner of the cage. The goal came 2:25 into the second overtime period and assured the Cardinals' advancement to the next round.
After a scoreless first half, Fisher got on the board first off a set piece. Fazio took a penalty corner that eventually made its way to
Nickole Morgan on top of the arc. Morgan ripped a shot that was corralled by
Lexi Foley in front of the net. Foley then slid a pass to Fazio in who tucked the ball into the open net. The one goal lead would last until just over seven minutes in regulation as Rhodes converted a two-on-one to force an overtime period.
The Fisher defense led by
Hannah Cooper and
Sarah Bisesi only allowed the Lynx five total shots, 19 less than the Cardinals' total.
Ashley Maynard played all 87:35 in net, making one save on the day.