DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 1) – In a season-opening double-overtime contest, the Trojans were edged by a 4-3 margin against Lynchburg in non-conference action on Thursday evening at Williams Field.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive field hockey program drops to 0-1 this season after being picked fourth in the preseason South Atlantic Conference (SAC) poll. Meanwhile, the Hornets open the year 1-0 overall after winning 14 games last season and making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Mount Olive wasted little time scoring in the initial three-plus minutes of the match on a goal from freshman
Jule Schuurman, her first of the season, off an assist from sophomore
Annefleur Moerkerken and junior
Avery Congleton , 1-0. Lynchburg would respond immediately on a through ball to tie the contest at 1-1 at the 4:45-mark on a goal from senior Emily Yanes. Both teams would have three more shots in the first quarter, but the game would remain tied. In the second quarter, the Trojans peppered the net with four shots, including three on goal, before freshman
Nikki Bos scored on an assist from Moerkerken at the 22:04-mark, 2-1.
After halftime, the Hornets once again tied the game eight-plus minutes into the third quarter on a goal from freshman Sydney Rowe, 2-2. Under two minutes later, Congleton put UMO ahead 3-2 off a penalty corner with an assist recorded by Schuurman. In the fourth quarter, the Hornets would find the back of the net off the stick of graduate student Brittany Claybaugh to tie the contest at 3-3. Both sides pressured the net in the closing minutes of the quarter before the game went into overtime.
After a scoreless first overtime, the Hornet found the game-winner just 25 seconds in the second overtime to secure the 4-3 victory on Thursday evening.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Alanna Barrett collected four saves in the contest on 17 shots faced in just over 70 minutes of action.
The Hornets held a slight 17-16 shot advantage, despite the Trojans totaling 14 shots on goal, while also holding a 9-6 edge in penalty corners.
The Trojans are idle for a week before traveling to Pennsylvania for back-to-back games, starting with West Chester on Friday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.
