The Oswego State field hockey team opened the 2016 slate at home with a stunning come-from-behind 3-2 overtime victory over Houghton College on Thursday afternoon at Laker Turf Stadium. Oswego's win pushes the team to 1-0 on the year while the Highlanders start off 0-1.
Two emphatic plays led the Lakers to capture the triumph. The latter of those plays came from transfer-sophomore Katie Reynolds in overtime. Just 4:41 into the first of two, 15-minute sudden-victory overtime periods, Reynolds received a pass from junior Jordan Sheehy, dodged the keeper to the right and lifted a shot into the back of the net for the win.
Allowing Reynolds to get her first goal in a Laker uniform was senior Grace Rinaldi, whose second goal of the game came at a crucial time. Trailing 2-1 with less than 30 seconds to play, Oswego was awarded a penalty corner. Rinaldi in-bounded the corner to classmate Julia Calandra, who dished off to Monica Harvey. The junior drove towards the end line towards the right post and sent a cross in front of the goalie, connecting with Rinaldi. Rinaldi sent the ball into the left corner of the net with just 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation, pushing the contest to extra time.
Houghton got on the board first in the game, as Kelsie Ashley sent a pass towards the cage from just inside the arc, finding Katelyn Cook. Cook was able to deflect the ball past the Laker goalie at 4:19 to give the Highlanders the 1-0 advantage.
Oswego did not allow a shot the rest of the half, out-shooting Houghton 6-1 in the period. The most important of those attempts was Rinaldi's goal with under four minutes to play in the opening stanza. Calandra lofted a shot to the net, and after a save was recorded, Rinaldi was able to corral the rebound and beat the keeper at 31:15.
In the second half, Houghton was able to take a 2-1 edge at 53:36 on a goal from Ashley, but Rinaldi and Reynolds' late heroics spoiled the Highlanders' thoughts of securing a win.
Junior Sarita Charap made four saves between the pipes for Oswego, moving to 1-0 on the year.
The Lakers outshot Houghton 19-8 and took four more penalty corner attempts (11-7).
Oswego will return to action when it hosts Nazareth College at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
