Holy Cross Field Hockey Outlasts Siena, 5-4, In Double Overtime

Alanna Sikorski

WORCESTER, Mass. - Senior Courtney Callahan (Acton, Mass.) scored with 5:56 remaining in the second overtime to lead Holy Cross to a thrilling 5-4 win over Siena at the Hart Turf Field this afternoon. With the win the Crusaders improve to 1-4 on the season while the Saints drop to 1-6. Holy Cross won the game at the 94:04 mark when Callahan tipped in a centering pass from freshman Ali Shutt (Wayne, Pa.) beyond the reach of Siena netminder Renee Clavette. 

Crusader sophomore Rachel Miers (Langhorne, Pa.) tallied her first career goal unassisted 10:39 into the game on a shot off a rebound within the eight. Holy Cross amassed a total of 12 shots in the first half, nine coming as shots-on-goal. Defense was a key factor as the Crusaders held the Saints to two shots in the half. Junior Alanna Sikorski (Glen Gardner, N.J.) led Holy Cross at the half with three shots.

Siena tied the game six minutes into a seesaw second half when Andrea Caso deflected a shot into the cage by Jenn Reich. Barely two minutes later, Kristin McGorty gave Siena a 2-1 lead when she scored unassisted. Junior Kara Gonnerman (St. Louis, Mo.) pulled Holy Cross even 44 seconds later on a deflection off a shot by senior Nora Happny (Portsmouth, N.H.), but Siena responded just 21 seconds later when McGorty scored again from the top of the circle to give the Saints a 3-2 lead. Siena extended their lead to 4-2 on a penalty stroke goal by Jenna Gifford. Holy Cross rallied when Gonnerman scored her second of the game at the 54:47 mark and Sikorski tied the game four minutes later.

"The team really came together today," said Holy Cross head coach Alicia Hawk. "After a rough start to the season, I believe the fire we showed today will definitely carry into our next game."

Holy Cross heads north in its next match-up against New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 19. The team looks to earn a victory against the Wildcats starting at 1:00 p.m. in Durham, N.H.