On Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, the Field Hockey team defeated defending state champions C. Milton Wright in a double overtime game achieving a 2-1 victory.

The Mustangs came right out of the gate to score a goal off of a stroke to get the early advantage over the Bobcats 1-0. There was a lot of back and forth action that took place for the rest of the half with the Bobcats receiving several penalty corners, but not being able to put the ball in the goal. Coming towards the end of the half, the Bobcat defense started the transition into the offensive end when Senior Carolyn Tood drove the ball into the circle with Senior Sam Keesey right at the door step to poke the ball past the goalie to tie the game 1-1 at the 5 minute mark. The score remained the same throughout the rest of the first half.

Coming into the second half, both teams knew what they had to bring to the table. The Mustangs started with possession and came down the field, but the standout Bobcat defense came up with powerful stops to clear the ball out. With a lot of back and forth action and the time slowly ticking away, both teams began to get frantic, knowing in the back of their mind that overtime was about to take place.

Starting the overtime, the Bobcats started with possession of the ball, but the Mustangs defense stepped up and transitioned the ball in the opposite direction. The Mustangs would come down into the Bobcat defensive end and cause a set of penalty corners. The standout Bobcat defense would deny a Mustang goal every attempt during the corner and cleared the ball up the field. The first ten minute overtime ended with the same score of 1-1.

The Bobcats came out in the second overtime period with a spark underneath them, knowing that the Mustangs started with possession so they had to step up. When the whistle blew, Senior Sam Keesey intercepted the Mustangs pass and started down the field. Keesey carried the ball down the field and passed the ball to Sophomore Anna Farley, who inserted the ball into the circle where Senior Lauren Fisher was right by the post to tap the ball in the goal. The Bobcats scored the winning goal over the Mustangs, 45 seconds into the second overtime period.

“We knew that C. Milton Wright would be an intense—physically and emotionally—draining game,” stated Coach Zorbach. “The varsity squad rose to the challenge of such a skilled opponent and worked extremely well as a team. A 2-1 overtime victory at this point in our season is enough to propel us into a very successful second half of our season. I’m very proud.”

Keesey and Fisher both tallied one goal in the victory while Todd and Farley added assists. Senior Goalkeeper Morgan Domanico was solid in the cage with a total of ten saves, only allowing one goal. Senior Katy Higinbothom added two defensive saves in the back field to keep the Bobcats in the game, but the entire Bobcat defense worked amazingly as a whole.

The Bobcats move to 7-2 on the season and will play again at South River High School on Wednesday Oct. 1, 2014.