Field Hockey Edged by Western Connecticut in Overtime, 2-1

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Junior forward Caitlin Ogrizovich (New Fairfield, Conn.) tallied the game-winning goal in overtime to lift visiting Western Connecticut State University to a 2-1 victory over Bridgewater State University in Little East Conference field hockey action on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

Western improves to 8-5 on the season and 5-2 in the Little East with the win, while Bridgewater slips to 5-8 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The Bears have dropped four of their last five games.

Ogrizovich converted the game-winner in the 77th minute of play as she turned her stick and lifted a backhanded shot from the left side over the sprawling BSU netminder and into the top-right corner of the net.  The goal marked her team-leading eighth of the season.

Freshman forward Greta McConnell (Norwalk, Conn.) opened the scoring for the Colonials in the sixth minute off an assist from junior midfielder Jenny Cappello (Litchfield, Conn.).

Moments before, sophomore defender Bryanna Willaby (New Haven, Conn.) denied a BSU scoring opportunity with a defensive save off a deflected shot labeled for inside the right post.  Sophomore netminder Kristy Trotta (Danbury, Conn.) also turned back a breakaway opportunity by Bears' junior forward Kelsey Kiely (Mansfield, Mass.) in the ninth minute to keep it a 1-0 game.

Bridgewater knotted the score on a penalty shot off the stick of freshman defender Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) in the 24th minute. For Maher, it was her first collegiate goal. Freshman midfielder Tori O'Dea (South Dennis, Mass.) drew the penalty shot as she was tripped up by the WCSU goaltender on a breakaway. 

Neither team could break the deadlock over the next 52 plus minutes until Ogrizovich's heroics in overtime.

BSU held a 12-8 shot advantage for the game and a 11-8 edge in penalty corners.

Trotta finished with eight saves as she posted her eighth win of the season.  Sophomore Kaylyn Allahyarian (Norwell, Mass.) made one save between the pipes for Bridgewater.

The Bears are off until next Saturday when they travel to Little East rival UMass Dartmouth for a noontime game with the Corsairs.  The Colonials travel to non-conference foe Manhattanville College on Wednesday night to take on the Valiants at seven.