When and Where: November 5, 2022 – Manchester, N.H. (Larkin Field)
Score: St. Thomas Aquinas College 4, Southern New Hampshire University 3 (2OT)
Records: SNHU 6-10 (5-6 NE10), STAC 9-7 (7-4 NE10)
Freshman
Anne Wiersma (Velhoven, Netherlands) scored twice and sophomore
Annemartine Christis ('s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands) assisted on all three Penmen goals, but the Southern New Hampshire University field hockey team dropped a 4-3, double-overtime decision Saturday afternoon to St. Thomas Aquinas College on Senior Day at Larkin Field.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Wiersma – 2 goals
- Christis – 3 assists
- Freshman Brianna Frisbee (Claremont, N.H.) – 1 goal, 1 assist
KEY MOMENTS
- St. Thomas Aquinas struck twice in the opening quarter to put the Penmen on their heels.
- The game would go to halftime with the Spartans leading, 2-0, but SNHU would strike back with a pair of Christis-to-Wiersma goals just 2:19 apart early in the third quarter. Frisbee earned an assist on the second goal, which came off her penalty corner insert.
- It was Frisbee that would give the Penmen their first lead just 1:55 into the final frame off a feed from Christis.
- Nicola Van Vuuren tied it for STAC with just 2:36 on the clock in regulation off a Jasmijn Van Drunen helper.
- Van Vuuren returned the favor, setting up Van Drunen's winner with 4:24 left before the contest would have gone into a shootout.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Junior goalkeeper Nichole Roberts (So. Berwick, Maine) started and stopped two of the four shots she faced in the opening quarter. Freshman Emma Peeters (Wageningen, Netherlands) made four saves over the final 60:36 of action.
- Jessie Hohenstein stopped four shots for the Spartans.
- STAC owned a 17-11 advantage in shots, including 5-0 in the two overtime periods.
- Penalty corners were even at eight apiece.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire has won three of its last five, but has lost two straight – both in double overtime.
- The Penmen are currently holding on to the No. 8 seed for the NE10 Championship and can mathematically climb as high as No. 7.
- SNHU still leads the all-time series with the Spartans, 5-2, but have now dropped two-in-a-row.
- The Penmen have played three consecutive overtime contests (1-2), with a fourth in their last five outings going to a shootout. They have now gone into overtime in five of the past eight games, winning two and losing three.
- Twelve of the 16 SNHU games this season have been decided by one goal.
- Christis now has 22 points to lead the Penmen (six goals, 10 assists). Her 10 helpers are tied for the league lead, while her 22 points are tied for seventh.
- SNHU honored its six-member senior class of Roberts, Audrey Canfield (No. Hampton, N.H.), Melanie Dube (So. Berwick, Maine), Taylor Marchman (Derry, N.H.), Caroline Scott (Bedford, N.H.) and Virginia Skelley (Alton, N.H.) in a ceremony prior to the contest.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen wrap up their home slate Wednesday, Nov. 9 (6 p.m.) when they play host to American International College at Larkin Field.
- The regular-season finale for SNHU is Saturday, Nov. 12 (1 p.m.) at Molloy College.
