Field Hockey | October 16, 2022

Box Score STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The La Salle field hockey team led 2-0 through the midway point of the third quarter, but late momentum from Wagner propelled the game into overtime and handed the Seahawks the victory, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon.
 
La Salle falls to 7-9 on the season and Wagner improves to 9-5.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Explorers took the lead in the 24^th minute thanks to premier post positioning from Laura McCann on the offensive corner. Malena Balduzzi passed the initial reception up top to Tatum Johnson who ran into double-coverage forcing the ball off to Peyton Tollaksen right off the goalie's pads. Tollaksen collected the ball and found the inserter McCann on the left post for the tip in and the goal.
• Early in the second half the Explorers converted yet another penalty corner. Balduzzi retrieved the ball up top once again for a back pass to Johnson who delivered it back to Balduzzi on the right size for the shot toward the left post where Sol Espona got the tip to put La Salle up 2-0.
• Wagner responded just before the end of the third quarter with a goal that just barely snuck by on the left post off the right foot of La Salle goalkeeper Ryan Curley.
• With just under two minutes remaining in regulation, the Seahawks earned a penalty corner firing a rocket shot met by an incredible diving save by Curley and cleared by McCann. But, Wagner regrouped finding the equalizer seconds later to send the game into overtime.
• The Seahawks had the final say finding the golden goal 40 seconds into overtime to end the game, 3-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Wagner held a huge advantage in shots 22-6 and shots on goal 10-5.
• The Seahawks had the edge in penalty corners 16-6
• Espona led the Explorers in shots with two. Her goal marked her fourth of the season.
• McCann's goal marked just her second of the season.
• Curley played all 60 minutes in the cage making seven saves on 22 shots faced. She held the Seahawks scoreless through the 44^th minute.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers return home this Friday, Oct. 21 to take on Saint Louis in an Atlantic 10 matchup. The game will serve as the team's Morgan's Message game this season, advocating for mental health. First pass is set for 1 p.m.