XML Box Score Grantham, PA - Alessandra Patrizio scored a stunning game-winner just 24 seconds into overtime to lead William Smith to a 4-3 win over Messiah College. The Falcons had tied the game in regulation with just 1:02 left off the stick of Moriah Pfautz who, until Patrizio's score, seemed to provide the biggest highlight of the afternoon with her breakaway shot.

The loss drops Messiah to 12-5 overall while William Smith moves to 14-3.
 
The match-up of two nationally ranked teams—William Smith at No. 11 and Messiah at No. 13—lived up to its billing from start to finish. The Falcons were especially strong in the first-half and went ahead in just the fifth minute of play behind Gina Kellett and Pfautz. Kellett weaved through a pair of William Smith midfielders near the top of the circle before sending a pass towards the cage. Pfautz pushed the ball past keeper Biz Chirco for the 1-0 lead.
 
The game was played end-to-end in the first-half, though Messiah managed to keep behind stellar defensive work and three saves by Molly Gebrosky. The Falcons then extended their lead in the 34th minute on a shot by Brooke Sands near the right side of the cage. Her shot—the Falcons' 13th shot of the half—went under the dive of Chirco.
 
Undeterred by the goal-two deficit, William Smith cut into the Messiah lead with just 16 seconds remaining before halftime. Cory Connolly put a rising shot from in front of the cage over the shoulder of Gebrosky, somewhat deflating the Falcons' momentum as the horn soon sounded.
 
Connolly's goal marked a swing in the game as the Herons scored twice in the first seven minutes of the second-half to go up 3-2. First, Margaret McConnell cleaned up a loose ball off a Herons' penalty corner for the tying goal at the 37:42 mark. Then, less than four minutes later, Melanie O'Connor scored off another penalty corner as she sent home a crossing pass from Morgan Atanasio on the left side of the cage.
 
The Herons' strong play continued through the half as they outshot the Falcons 9-5 and outcornered them 9-3. The Falcons' defense did keep the game close, though, oftentimes scrapping hard in front of the goal to keep William Smith from getting off clean shots. With just over 20 minutes left Gebrosky came up with a huge save, too, diving to her right to deflect away a shot from McConnell.
 
Messiah's defensive efforts paid off in the final moments as they found a game-tying score with just over a minute remaining. Pfautz took control just over the midfield and carried all the way into the circle while keeping the ball from two defenders—one on each side—as she approached the goal. She let fly a shot from the right side that went past the dive of Chirco and tucked into the left side of the cage. Pfautz jumped in the air in celebration as her teammates rushed to her side to join in.
 
The Falcons' rally set-up an overtime period with the scored knotted at 3-3. However, before either team or the fans could settle into the frame, William Smith capitalized on a golden opportunity. The Herons' defense started the action with a pass into the midfield where it appeared Kellett would stop the ball and push back to Messiah's field. But the ball took a sharp bounce past her stick and rolled into the Herons' side where Taylor Cappello raced forward and led a break towards the Messiah cage. She attacked on the right side before passing left to Patrizio for a clean shot on an open side of the cage for the winner. The Herons raced onto the field in celebration while Messiah stood in shock of the quick turn of events.
 
Each team finished with 18 shots in the game, with William Smith holding an 11-7 advantage in corners. Chirco saved five shots for the Herons with Gebrosky collecting seven of her own for Messiah.
 
The game also ended the regular-season for each team. William Smith will begin the Liberty League Field Hockey Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Rochester; Messiah will start the Commonwealth Conference Championships on the same day by hosting Arcadia University at 7:00 p.m.


Click on the gallery to see higher resolution and/or to buy your favorite prints.

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video