ROLLO’S OT GOAL PROPELS EXPRESS PAST HOOD

AURORA, N.Y. – Elisabeth Rollo (Geneva, N.Y.) ripped home a rebound 30-seconds into overtime leading the Wells College field hockey team to a thrilling 2-1 victory over the visiting Hood College Blazers Saturday afternoon in Aurora. Rollo also assisted on a goal by Avary McKinney (Rochester, N.Y.), while goalie Amanda Catalano (Lockport, N.Y.) was sensational in net finishing with 10 saves. Michelle Buhrman (Smithsburg, Md.) scored the lone goal for the Blazers (4-10).

The Express got on the board first in the 24^th minute of play. After breaking up an offensive opportunity for the Blazers, the Express began to press up the field. Kweita Holmes (Frederick, Md.) sent a pass towards the net from midfield, finding Rollo directly in front of the goal as she swept the ball to the left side for a wide open McKinney, who buried the shot to the left side for a 1-0 lead.

Hood pressured throughout the first half. The Blazers best opportunity came with just over five minutes remaining in the half. Burhman took a pass off a penalty corner and fired a shot but Catalano was there for the chest save and would turn away the ensuing rebound from Megan Cahill (Frederick, Md.) as the score held 1-0 in favor of Wells heading into the halftime break.

The Blazers came out in a fiery in the second half but Catalano was again there turning away several shots, including an impressive kick save on a backhand shot from Miriah Stone (Thurmont, Md.) that looked destined for the back of the net.

It would not be until the 47th minute that the Blazers finally beat Catalano. Moving hard down the field, the Blazers broke into the Express zone and fired three shots on net that Catalano turned away but, on the fourth shot the Express would be whistled for a dangerous play resulting in a penalty shot for the Blazers.

Buhrman was selected to take the penalty stroke and sent her shot low and to the left past Catalano for the game tying goal with 23 minutes left to play. The Blazers would have on opportunity to take the lead with less than a minute to play but Catalano made an incredible kick save to keep the game even, and the Express defense staved off a penalty corner with no time remaining to force overtime.

The Express wasted no time in the extra frame, with the ball headed towards the Blazers goal, Shelby Moszkowicz broke through two defenders forcing Blazers goalie Ying Van Schaik (Easton, Md.) to come out and play the ball; the two collided and the ball kicked out to Rollo, who in one motion sent a backhanded shot towards the short side -- past Schaik (2 saves) and in -- for the game winning goal just 30-seconds into the first overtime.

The Blazers held the advantage in shots (14-6) and penalty corners (12-3).

The Express return to action on Wednesday when they travel to take on SUNY Brockport at 4 p.m. in Brockport, N.Y.