Field Hockey Drops 3-2 OT Decision in Little East Quarterfinals

DANBURY, CT -- Junior midfielder Jenny Cappello (Litchfield, Conn.) scored a pair of goals including the game-winner in overtime to lift the Western Connecticut State University field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Little East Conference Tournament at the Westside Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.

The Colonials (11-9) advance to the LEC semifinals on Thursday, November 6 at Keene State College.  Keene defeated Eastern Connecticut State University, 2-1, in overtime in another quarterfinal match up tonight. Game time for the semifinals will be determined on Wednesday.

Cappello's heroic marker came 5:35 into the first overtime from a penalty corner started by Kristy Matasavage (Middlebury, Conn.) then pushed across the crease by Lauren Allen (Fairfield, Conn.) .

Cappello set up the extra frame when she scored the game-tying goal off a penalty corner from Allen with 4:17 remaining in regulation. Cappello now has five goals on the season.

The Colonials had been 0-for-9 on penalty corners against the Bears until 65:43 into the contest.

Bridgewater State (8-11) took an early lead when Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.) finished off a centering pass from Mary Dubin (Holden, Mass.) in the 11th minute.

Western drew even when Heidi Odenwaelder (Goshen, Conn.) tallied her sixth goal of the season. She was set up from a pass from Cappello, who finished the night with five total points.

Kiely put the Bears up 2-1 with her team-leading, along with Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) and Brittney Field (Hubbarston, Mass.), sixth goal of the season. The junior forward received a pass from Field in the 46th minute of play for a lead that would stand for over 20 minutes.

Sophomore goalie Kristy Trotta (Danbury, CT) had a stellar night in the cage for the winners. She made eight saves, but none bigger than one off the stick of field 2:14 into overtime.

Kaylyn Allhyarian (Norwell, Mass.) made eight stops for the Bears who also received defensive saves from Dubin, classmate Molly Bennett (Ashland, Mass.) and senior Sarah Gendron (North Dighton, Mass.).