West Haven, C.T- Suffering a tough loss to the Owls of Southern Connecticut earlier in the week, the Chargers bounced back and upset the fourth ranked team in the conference, the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire. Senior Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) finding the net twice, alongside Abby Nixon (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional) and Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary) both finding one goal to lift the Chargers over the Penmen. New Haven now stands at 3-8 overall, 3-4 in conference play.
The game took on a fast pace at the blow of the first whistle, with both teams coming off the bat with offensive pressure. Southern New Hampshire finding the Chargers circle for the first offensive opportunity of the evening, gathering a penalty corner in the first three minutes of play, but was shut down by two diving plays from goalkeeper Hallie Reiger (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady School).
It would be four minutes from the first offensive opportunity on either side, that the Chargers would open the scoring. In the seventh minute of play, Paige Garrett (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood Area) won the ball in the midfield, bringing it up the sideline and passing it off to the middle to find Abby Nixon (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional). Nixon would dish it baseline to Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) who would place a shot but would be saved by the goalkeeper. A fight for rebounded shots in front of the goalmouth would eventually come to an end with Abby Nixon (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional) finding the first goal of the game.
For a remainder of the first quarter, as well as the second, the Chargers and the Penmen would maintain an equal battle in terms of offensive opportunities. With trips to each end from both teams, the Penmen would not be able to find the equalizer and the game would remain at 1-0 entering halftime. The Chargers would tally a total of six shots, placing five on goal, while Hallie Reiger (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady School) would go 100% facing six shots and making six saves.
Coming out of halftime, with a lead the New Haven looked to continue their momentum and would accomplish that goal. With four minutes of play down, a penalty corner was called in favor of New Haven, doing something they know will work, Trammel inserts to the top of the circle to find Sophia Ruh (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City). Ruh with the dish off to her left, would find Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary) for a straight shot to the far corner for the second goal of the night.
It would not take long for one of the many attempts from the Penmen to find its way into the goal. Reiger taking two hard shots would save both, but to save the third she would find her way to the ground, where a lift would send the ball over her reach for the first goal for Southern New Hampshire. Back and forth play would continue between the two teams, but Southern New Hampshire would find the equalizer in the 46th minute of play, on a penalty corner, the shot going close corner.
One of the highlights of the night would come from freshman Emma Beaujouan (Concord, N.H./Concord), finding an assist on the evening. With the ball traveling up the field, a pass a bit out of reach would find its way towards the baseline. Beaujouan tracking the ball would make a diving play to keep the ball in play, getting her stick on it and sending it towards the stroke line, where Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) would run on to it and finish it opposite corner.
With ten minutes of play left, the blue and gold would hold on to that one goal lead until 16 seconds remained, until Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) would find her second of the night. The Penmen looking for the equalizer to bring the game to overtime, would pull their goalkeeper to add an extra player to the offensive. A restart would put the ball in the hands of Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary) who would send a deep ball up the field, Trammel getting a hold of it on her reverse and bringing it to her strong side, would send the ball to the open net finishing it off for the Chargers.
New Haven got the win despite trailing in the shot column 19-11, with eight of their shots placing on goal. Leading the Chargers offensive was Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) finding four shots, all on goal. Hallie Reiger (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady School) played the full ninety minutes in goal for New Haven, racking up 12 saves on 14 shots.
Looking forward, the New Haven field hockey team will host the Mavericks of Mercy College for a Breast Cancer Awareness game on Tuesday, October 10th. That game is set for a start time of 7:00 p.m. under the lights of DellaCamera Stadium, and you can catch all the action on the Chargers Sports Network on NE10 NOW.
