Kreusch's Overtime Strike Puts UMass By Maine, 3-2

Sept. 5, 2014

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts field hockey freshman Melanie Kreusch scored a diving goal three minutes and 49 seconds into overtime to give UMass a 3-2 victory over Maine at Garber Field on Friday afternoon. The goal, which was assisted by classmate Sarah Hawkshaw, marked the first of Kreusch's collegiate career.

Brooke Sabia tallied twice for Massachusetts against the Black Bears, her first two of the season after she notched 20 as a sophomore in 2013 to lead the team in the category. Sophomore Izzie Delario and Cliodhna Loughlin each earned one assist for the Minutewomen while Sam Carlino made four saves in the cage.

Nicole Sevey and Cassidy Svetek scored once apiece for Maine while Danielle Aviani helped out on one goal. Emily Corbett turned aside two UMass attempts in net for the Black Bears.

Kreusch ended the game in a frantic manner as she dove at the crease to push Hawkshaw's pass beyond Corbett, who dropped to the ground in an attempt to block the goalmouth. However, Kreusch was able to slide underneath Corbett and knock the ball off the backboard to seal the win for the Minutewomen.

The Black Bears took advantage of an odd-player rush to force overtime with Sketek's game-tying goal in the 66th minute. During a two-on-one situation, Aviani fed a pass to Svetek, who had rushed into the right-center portion of the UMass circle. Svetek was able to maneuver the ball around Carlino in net and fire a shot into the right side.

Prior to Kreusch's game-winner, Sabia supplied the Minutewomen with both of their regulation goals, including one earned on a penalty stroke.

For the first tally, scored at the 24:53 mark of play, Delario inserted the play to Loughlin at the top of the circle. Loughlin knocked a short pass to Sabia for the junior to crush a low shot into the right side of the cage.

Sevey answered for Maine just more than 10 minutes later with only one second left in the first half when she converted an unassisted goal during a broken play directly following a Black Bear penalty corner.

However, Sabia placed UMass ahead, 2-1, in the 60th minute through a penalty stroke. The Minutewomen were awarded the stroke by the officials after Maine was whistled for an infraction during a Massachusetts penalty corner.

UMass earned the advantage in shots taken, 16-7, but were only able to direct five attempts at the goal versus six on-target attempts for Maine. The Minutewomen also led in penalty corners, 12-3.

The University of Massachusetts takes to the road to face intra-state rival Boston College in Newton, Massachusetts, on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m.

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Team Stats

Brooke Sabia

Melanie Kreusch

Izzie Delario

Cliodhna Loughlin

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University of Massachusets Athletics