WEST HAVEN, Conn. – It took an extra eight minutes but the New Haven Field Hockey team opened up its Northeast-10 Conference slate with a 1-0 shutout of the visiting Franklin Pierce Ravens on Saturday under the light of Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. With the win, New Haven improves to 2-3 on the season.

New Haven held much of the momentum throughout the first 45 minutes of the action, registering 11 total shots in regulation, adding three more in overtime, none more important than the final of the night off the stick of Erin Smith (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) for her team-leading second goal of the season.

With just over two minutes remaining in overtime, Smith took a pass forward from Riley Schoonmaker (High Falls, N.Y./Rondout Valley) on the far edge of the circle. Working around one defender and with the keeper coming out to play the ball, Smith fired a shot across the face of the goal that rattled off the post and deep into the cage for the sudden death victory.

Smith led the Chargers throughout the full 68 minutes of the match with all three of the shots she registered marked on goal. Of the 14 total shots from New Haven, six were on goal with the Ravens keeper making five stops.

Sophomore goalkeeper Cara Lambert (Sutton, Mass./Sutton Memorial) closed out her 68 minutes of work in the cage with five saves, facing seven total shots from the Raven.

The Chargers won't have much time to savor this victory as they will turn right around and host the Saint Thomas Aquinas Spartans for another NE10 contest in less than 48 hours. The conference battle is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 23 with all of the action available live on NE10 Now on Flo Sports.