WAYNE, N.J. – The Sweet Briar College field hockey team (0-7, 0-0 ODAC) once again saw shootout action, this time taking the William Paterson University Pioneers (1-6, 0-0 NJAC) to extra time.
The Vixens ultimately fell 1-0 in penalty strokes, following the game's 1-1 tie through 80 minutes of play.
William Paterson established pressure early, earning four penalty corners in the opening quarter and putting two shots on goal, but junior goalkeeper
Reiyn Hart (Bridgton, Maine) was ready for both attempts. The Vixens' first scoring chance came late in the period, when sophomore
Haley Littlefield (Albany Township, Maine) placed a shot on target in the 15th minute that was stopped by the William Paterson goalkeeper.
The hosts broke through midway through the second quarter. Following a sequence of penalty corners and a shot that got redirected into the cage at the 21:35 mark for a 1-0 William Paterson lead.
Sweet Briar absorbed sustained pressure through the third quarter as Hart made two saves on in quick succession late in the frame. The Vixens also earned three penalty corners in the period, with first-year
Liv Werner (Fredericksburg, Va.) taking each insertion, but entered the fourth quarter still trailing by one.
Hart continued to keep Sweet Briar within striking distance in the final quarter. She made six saves in the period, including a flurry of four William Paterson chances between the 53rd and 55th minutes. Hart also stopped shots during a late penalty-corner sequence.
The Vixens found their breakthrough with just 29 seconds remaining in regulation. Littlefield collected the ball on the left side, dribbled toward the center of the circle and tapped her finish into the cage at 59:31, tying the contest at 1-1 and sending the game to overtime.
William Paterson outshot Sweet Briar in the first overtime period, but Hart turned aside four shots. Sweet Briar generated a late chance of its own after junior
Larkin Shire (Caroline County, Va.) earned a penalty corner with 57 seconds remaining in the first overtime, though senior
Emmi Burdine's (Huntington Beach, Calif.) ensuing shot went wide.
Hart added three more saves in the second overtime. Sweet Briar also earned a penalty corner with five minutes left in the second overtime, and junior
Gianna Guadagno (Huntington Beach, Calif.) created the Vixens' final shot opportunity in the 80th minute, sending an attempt just wide.
After the score remained level through overtime, the teams went to a shootout. Hart denied William Paterson's first three shooters, while the Pioneers goalie stopped Sweet Briar's first four attempts. William Paterson converted on its fourth stroke to secure the decision on the final team attempt.
Highlights
- Littlefield scored her first goal of the 2026 season.
- Hart totaled a season-high 19 saves.
What's Next
The Vixen will open up conference play on Oct. 3rd against Bridgewater.
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