TOWSON, Md. — The Towson University Field Hockey team won its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game of the season with a 2-1 overtime win against William & Mary on Sunday afternoon.
Sarah Hatfield and Kathryn Parkinson both scored for the Tigers to aid in the victory. In net, goalkeeper Lena Vandam registered 13 saves in addition to Kasey Bubel who made one clutch defensive stop.
The win marks Towson's first of the fall in conference action and William & Mary's first loss in league play.
RECORD
Towson (3-10, 1-3)
William & Mary (2-8, 2-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- William & Mary came out hungry after losing to Richmond 3-4 on Friday. They attempted two penalty corners and three shots throughout the opening quarter but the Towson defense stood strong.
- The second period was much of the same as the Tribe took four corners and three shots. Paige Reese and the rest of the defense worked together to clear the circle and keep shots from reaching Vandam. The goalkeeper ended the first half with just two saves.
- Just before the half, Jenna Florenzo got the first shot off for the black & gold.
- The two teams traded possessions in the third as the Tigers' defense stopped yet another corner and a barrage of shots.
- In the 44th minute, Hatfield broke through scoring the first goal of the game to put Towson on the board. The score was assisted by Elizabeth Harper.
- In the fourth, William & Mary took a game-high five penalty corners. The team cashed in on the third of the period to tie the contest, 1-1.
- Towson did not let off the gas to end regulation, as the opposition attempted two more corners and several shots. The two teams ended 1-1 after 60:00 of play.
- In the overtime period, the Tribe kept the pressure up and the ball in the Tigers' defensive half. William & Mary attempted a game-high eight shots in under nine minutes. Vandam and her defense had an answer for every one as she amassed a game-best six saves in the 10:00 period.
- Hannah McKeon stole the ball away in Towson's defensive circle with just over 2:00 to play. She took the ball all the way up the field, getting the William & Mary goalkeeper to come off her line and and follow her on the edge of the circle.
- As the keeper left the goal unattended, McKeon passed the ball to Parkinson at the top of the circle who hit it in for the game winning goal in the 66th minute with just over a 1:30 left.
BEYOND THE BOX
- The win marks the first for Towson over William & Mary since 2011, when they got the 3-1 edge at Johnny Unitas Stadium. The victory also marks the first time the Tigers have defeated the Tribe on a water-based field since 2010, when the black & gold came home with a 3-2 win.
- Hatfield's goal is her first of the fall and her first as a Tiger after transferring from VCU before the season. Parkinson's score is her second of the season after she scored on Friday against James Madison.
- After producing a 3-1 win over Northeastern in the spring of 2021 and today's victory, Towson has now beaten a CAA foe in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2010-2011 slates.
- The win also represents the first overtime victory for the team since 2019 when the Tigers beat Georgetown, 3-2 in double overtime.
- Towson's defense successfully stopped 13 of 14 penalty corners throughout the contest. William & Mary also held the upper hand in shots, 24 to four.
- Vandam's 13 saves is good for her third-highest game total this season. Bubel also now has 10 defensive saves.
- Six cards were assessed throughout the game, including two yellow cards both to Towson players.
NEXT GAME
Towson will travel to Hofstra for its final conference road game of the season on Friday, Oct. 10 at 3 p.m.
