Field Hockey Downs JWU 3-2 on Last-Minute Dalbec Game-Winner

PAXTON, Mass.—Senior Kylie Dalbec (Portland, Maine) buried the game-winning goal with 1:29 left in regulation to lead the Anna Maria College field hockey team to a 3-2 win against the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the AMCATS snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 12-6 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Wildcats fall to 3-13 overall and 2-4 in GNAC action.

THE SERIES

Today's win gives the AMCATS a 2-1 edge over the Wildcats in the three-year series. Last year, the Wildcats prevailed in a 2-1 home win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The AMCATS trailed for nearly 20 minutes in the first half following a goal by JWU in the second minute of the game. Anna Maria tied it before halftime and then took a 2-1 lead in the second minute of the second half, but a JWU goal in the 57^th minute evened the score at 2-2. Dalbec's game-winner was netted in the 69^th minute.

The AMCATS were dominant on the day, holding a 17-11 advantage in shots and an 8-5 edge in penalty corners.

SCORING

First Half: The Wildcats needed just 1:46 to get on the board, as Amanda Takach (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) fired in a shot from a few steps out from the right post that was redirected by Katarina Brunette (Cohoes, N.Y.), who was positioned a step in front of AMCAT netminder Mary Kate Breen (Londonderry, N.H.).

Anna Maria scored an equalizer nearly 20 minutes later off of a penalty corner. Kayla Lapierre (Worcester, Mass.) collected the ball outside the circle on the left side and fired it through the circle to the right post, where Kaitlyn Moran (Leciester, Mass.) made a stick move before burying the shot.

Second Half: Anna Maria took a 2-1 lead early in the half on an opportunity off of a foul. Lapierre passed to Moran off of the free ball, who fired a long pass in to Dalbec who one-touched it into the net.

In the 57^th minute, Johnson & Wales evened the score at 2-2 on a penalty corner. Gabriella Catania (West  Milford, N.J.) inserted it from the corner to  which was tipped in by Shaina Thompson (Delmar, Del.).

In the 69^th minute, Dalbec and Lapierre mounted a full-field two-on-one sprint towards the JWU net. Lapierre carried the ball into the circle, got the JWU goaltender to commit, then passed to Dalbec who batted it in for the score.

INSTANT HIGHLIGHT: @amcat_fieldhockey game-winner against @jwuathleticspvd! Dalbec from Lapierre! #AMCATNation #theGNAC #instanthighlight #d3fh

A video posted by Anna Maria College Athletics (@goamcats) on Oct 24, 2015 at 10:43am PDT

GOALTENDERS

Breen totaled six saves in net to lead the AMCATS to victory. JWU netminder Shannon Yoder (Boyertown, Pa.) recorded 10 saves in defeat.

SENIOR DAY

Prior to today's start, Anna Maria recognized four seniors playing in their final home regular season game today: Dalbec, Lapierre, Breen, and Shelby Looney (Leicester, Mass.).

WHAT'S NEXT

With today's win the AMCATS have sealed a first-round home game in the 2015 GNAC tournament. Official seeding will be announced by the GNAC league office. Johnson & Wales will also be in the playoffs but will be on the road for the first round.