Before Saturday's game with Central Michigan, field hockey headcoach Annette Payne said the Cardinals needed to play hard fromstart to finish to end their three-game losing streak.
Payne didn't get her wish. But what effort the team lacked atthe beginning of the match, it more than made up for at theend.
After falling behind 3-0 to the Chippewas (4-8, 2-3 MAC) in thefirst half, the Cardinals (6-8, 3-2 MAC) stormed back to score fourunanswered goals and win the game in overtime.
"We did not quit today," Payne said. "It goes a long way to showthat our team is made of heart."
The comeback came on the strength of a three-goal performance bysenior Afton Hess. She said that after falling behind by threegoals, the team came together and played more as a unit, and thatwas the key to victory.
"We came out slow, but we did regain our focus to play as ateam," Hess said. "We played consistent throughout the second halfand that kept (Central Michigan) from scoring."
The Chippewas scored their first goal 12 minutes into thecontest. They scored again 90 seconds later on a slow shot thatrolled past sophomore goalie Tracy Bannister.
After Central took a 2-0 lead, Payne pulled Bannister andreplaced her with freshman Jessie Malone, who saw her first actionof the year.
Malone gave up one goal with 13 minutes to go in the first half,but that was the last time the Chippewas scored. The Cardinals cameto life offensively and defensively after the third goal.
Hess scored two goals before halftime to close Central's lead to3-2. Then, seven minutes into the second half, Hess slammed a shotfrom 20 yards outside the goal that blew by all the defenders totie the score at three.
"Our offense worked really well off each other and found theopen player," Hess said of her hat trick. "It just happened to beme."
Neither team scored in the final 27:35 of regulation as the gamewent to overtime. With 4:52 remaining in the extra period, seniorKirsty Houghton found herself with the ball starring directly atthe goal.
Houghton knew what to do with the opportunity. She scored thegame-winning goal on a shot that, Hess said, was hit harder thanher goal.
"Kirsty just nailed it," Hess said. "She has a hard shot. Wetold her to shoot it all game and she finally did."
Despite her three scores, Hess lost her position as No. 1 in theMid-American Conference in goals. Heading into the weekend, Hesswas tied with Kent State senior Jennifer Melnyk with eightgoals.
Melnyk scored four goals against Miami Friday to take a one-goallead over Hess. Hess still holds the lead in overall points bythree.
When Bannister left the game early in the first half, it was thefirst time she had been pulled from a game this season. The twoquick goals she gave up came after giving up a season-high fivegoals to Kent State Wednesday.
In relief work, Malone gave up one goal and collected threesaves. Payne said she was pleased with the way Malone played, buthad to wait and see how practice goes before she names a starterfor Friday's game against Miami.
"They're both very good goal-keepers who complement each otherwell," Payne said. "We're going to have to practice hard and see(who will start)."
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