After dropping a game to SUNY New Paltz on Friday Oct. 5, the Geneseo field hockey team battled with SUNY Oneonta the following day.
Three minutes into overtime in the Oneonta game, with the score still tied at zero, junior forward Kerry Hosford took control of the ball in the offensive end toward an open net. Before she could shoot, though, a Red Dragon defender caused an infraction, which awarded the Knights a penalty shot.
Head coach Jessica Seren gave the opportunity to senior defender and team leader Rachel Atkins. Atkins is “one of [the] top penalty shooters on the team,” Seren said in an email interview.
“With it being senior day, I had all the confidence in her that she’d rise to the challenge under pressure, knowing what was on the line,” Seren said.
Atkins ripped the ball past the goalie into the top left of the cage for the crucial overtime win.
“The win lifted our spirits back up, and we'll carry that momentum as we continue battling for the right to host [the] SUNYACs in November,” Seren said.
As of Wednesday Oct. 10, Geneseo is in a three-way tie for first place in the conference with New Paltz and SUNY Cortland, who are all 3-1 in SUNYAC play.
The day before the overtime thriller, the New Paltz Hawks topped the Knights, 2-0. The first half ended at 0-0, but the visitors scored two goals within four minutes in the middle of the second half, and Geneseo could not mount a comeback.
Although Geneseo outshot the Hawks and held a 12-3 advantage in penalty corners, it was unable to capitalize on its chances.
“[The Hawks] were able to capitalize on the very few chances they had, and we weren’t, despite controlling and dominating play. Sometimes that’s how the game goes though,” Seren said. The loss broke Geneseo’s five-game winning streak.
The Knights will take on SUNY Oswego and SUNY Cortland Friday Oct. 19 and Saturday Oct. 20, respectively, as well as some nonconference opponents to decide who will claim the SUNYAC title.