MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A second-half rally from the Central Michigan field hockey team forced overtime with Villanova, but the comeback effort came up just short as Villanova claimed a 3-2 victory and the Robert Morris Tournament Championship Sunday afternoon.
Senior midfielder Erin Dye and junior forward Bailey McKeon both scored for the Chippewas (1-1) for the second consecutive match to overcome a 2-0 Villanova (2-0) halftime lead.
"When you can come back after 2-0 and make a game of it, that's something we're proud of,” head coach Cristy Freese said. “We didn't necessarily get the results we wanted, but we can learn from it and move on.”
Villanova took four shots in the overtime period before connecting for the game-winner on the fifth off a penalty corner in the eighth minute of the first seven-on-seven, “sudden death” overtime period to end the game.
Taking the field in the second half down 2-0 after a stagnant half on the offensive side of the field, the Chippewas poured on the offense to force the overtime period.
“At halftime we talked about having more discipline and doing the little things well,” Freese said. “The players responded and certainly we controlled the second half. We had opportunities to get that third goal and just couldn't finish it off.”
The Maroon and Gold broke through for their first goal of the game in the 49th minute on Dye's second goal of the season, which came off the rebound of sophomore forward Mary Alice Moore's shot. Moore was credited with her first assist of the season.
Not even a half minute later, Dye assisted McKeon for her second goal of the season to tie the match at 2-2. McKeon redirected a pass from Dye from about two yards outside the cage.
All of the Chippewas' 11 shots on goal and 15 of their 17 total shots came in the second half, which, when combined with a defense that only allowed five shots in the period, contributed to the comeback.
Villanova took 16 shots in the game, five of which came in the extra time.
Both teams were scoreless in the first half until Villanova's Carolyn Clark scored on a deflection off the right post on a penalty corner. The goal was assisted by Kristen Davila and Jessica Swoboda.
The Wildcats added a second 11 minutes later, when Keira Zambon scored off a deflected shot by Swoboda, who was credited with another assist.
McKeon led the way with eight shots, five of which were on goal, while Dye fired two of her three shots on goal.
Moore, sophomore Cayleigh Immelman, sophomore defender Jordyn Brengosz and sophomore midfielder Simone Lazar each recorded one shot on goal.
The Chippewas are next in action Friday against Delaware at Ann Arbor. The match begins at 11:30 a.m.
