BALTIMORE, Md. ---  The Sweet Briar field hockey team launched a furious attack at the end of regulation to send their game with Goucher to overtime.  In the 10th minute of OT, the Gophers were able to chop in a loose ball in front for the 2-1 victory.

After a scoreless first half, Rachel Crain (Charlotte Hall, Md./Chopticon) gave the Gophers a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the second frame. After weathering an initial push from Goucher, though, the Vixens turned up the intensity.  It came to a head late in the second half when SBC crashed the net, forcing the goalkeeper to cover the ball.  Senior Loralei Whittaker (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) converted on the ensuing penalty stroke to tie the game at 1-1 with 1:35 remaining in regulation.  Whittaker fired the stroke into the lower left corner of the cage for the first penalty stroke goal of her career.  

The two teams went to overtime and, in 7 v 7 action, battled for another 9:25 until Goucher was able to take advantage of a scamble in front of the SBC cage.  Lizzie Barminski (Ventura, Calif./Buena) was credited with the game winner for the Gophers.

First-year goalkeeper Skylar Rowan (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School) had an outstanding outing in net for the Vixens.  Rowan turned away 15 shots on the day and kept SBC in striking distance throughout the afternoon.

"Our whole team played fantastically," said Head Coach Jess Gray.  "From Sky and our defense, to our midfielders and forwards, everyone that we called upon played well.  We had a good first half, but we definitely picked up intensity in second half.  I think the energy we showed in overtime will carry over the next time we step onto the field."

Sweet Briar will next have that opportunity on Wednesday, September 25, when they head to Frostburg State to take on the Bobcats at 5:00 p.m.

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