Field Hockey | 10/30/2021 2:50:00 PM
Senior Amanda Chuttey made 25 saves and two defenders combined for three defensive saves as the Nazareth College Field Hockey team outlasted Washington and Jefferson College and won a 2-1 decision in a shootout after the teams played to a 1-1 tie for the regulation time and two overtime periods.
The win for Nazareth (6-10 overall, 5-3 E8) secures the fourth and final seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Tournament. The Golden Flyers will face top seeded St. John Fisher in the semifinal round of the tournament November 2.
Washington and Jefferson had a 9-2 edge in shots in the opening quarter and scored after a penalty corner with six minutes left in the quarter for the early lead.
In the closing minute of the first period, junior Bailey Selman sent a long pass forward and found the stick of fellow junior Grace Wasileski who broke in free on the goalie. Wasileski dribbled around the goalie at the top of the circle and sent a shot into the back of the goal to tie the game.
The score remained tied for the rest of regulation despite the Presidents holding a commanding 20-1 advantage in shots in the second half. Chuttey made save after save as Washington and Jefferson also earned eight penalty corners in the second half. Junior Caroline Desautels had two defensive saves and Wasileski a third to help keep the score tied.
The Presidents had an advantage in overtime as well with a 7-2 edge in shots and 8-1 lead in penalty corners.
Nazareth had the two best scoring chances in overtime but a pair of shots from close range both went wide of the goal.
During the shootout to decide a winner, Chuttey was once again on her game as she made four saves including two diving saves. Nazareth struck first in the shootout as freshman Madison Chodkowski scored after the W&J goalie went down to the ground to make the initial save.
The Presidents tied the score with a flip shot over the head of Chuttey but freshman Lydia Coombs scored for Nazareth on the next shot to give the Golden Flyers a 2-1 edge. A final save by Chuttey sealed the victory and put Nazareth into the Empire 8 Tournament.