Roycroft's O.T. Goal Gives Owls Win At Plymouth State

PLYMOUTH, N.H. –   Westfield State senior Shannon Roycroft (Barnstable, Mass.) scored the game-winner 4:12 into overtime as Westfield State snuck past Plymouth State University 3-2 in a Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey contest at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.

Westfield State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter on goals from Cheryl Latona and Allie Giguere.

Early in the second quarter Plymouth's Athena Comeau tipped in a shot from sophomore Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) and the Panthers were on the board.

Comeau scored her second of the game later in the third quarter after sophomore Holly Temple (Topsham, Maine) fired a hard pass to a streaking Healey, who walked in and found Comeau at the far post to tie the game at 2-2.

The score held through the end of regulation to set up a dramatic overtime session. Westfield State was able to gain possession and had multiple point blank opportunities stopped by Panthers' goalkeeper Kayla Antonucci, but an ensuing penalty corner for the Owls led to the game winner, as Emily Martin (Southwick, Mass.) found Roycroft about 6 yards out on the right side, where she ripped a shot to the back of the cage.

Plymouth State drops to 6-4 (4-3 LEC), while Westfield State improves to 5-7 (4-2 LEC).

PSU had an edge in shots on goal (16-14), while the Owls had the advantage in penalty corners (6-4).

Antonucci finished with nine saves for Plymouth, while Riley Goulet (Marion, Mass.) made three saves for the Owls in the win.