Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/13/07) - Colgate sophomore Katelyn Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) scored 2:42 into overtime to boost the Raider field hockey team to a 4-3 win against visiting Bucknell on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Tyler's Field. The goal capped a late rally that saw the Raiders erase a 3-0 deficit with three goals in the final 21 minutes of regulation to force the extra session.

After Bucknell squandered a scoring chance early in the overtime period, Colgate stormed down to the other end of the field where it enjoyed three scoring chances before completing the comeback. Nerbonne's game-winning goal came after she worked the ball into the circle, 2-on-1 with freshman Laura Denenga (Harare, Zimbabwe). Nerbonne carried in on the left side, and after her first shot was stopped by Bison goalie Jessie Atieh, she stuffed in her own rebound to give the Raiders the victory.

Colgate began its comeback with just under 21 minutes to play in regulation as the Raiders' top penalty corner unit scored its ninth goal of the season. Senior Natali Plesniarski (Hamilton, N.Y.) and junior Maddie Watrobski (Penfield, N.Y.) fed Raider leading scorer Lauren Carey (Medfield, Mass.) to get on the board.

Nerbonne benefitted from a big individual effort by junior Laura Flisnik (Marcy, N.Y.) with less than 12 minutes on the clock. Flisnik carried the ball into the circle from midfield, and dropped it down to Nerbonne on the left side. Nerbonne scored stick-side to make it a one-goal game.

With less than five minutes left in regulation, Colgate had the chance to tie the game with a penalty corner. Flisnik shot from the top of the circle, but her shot was ramped into the air in front of the cage. Denenga batted the ball into the net, but the officials waved the goal off and granted the Raiders another corner. In a repeat of the previous play, Flisnik shot in on goal, and Denenga redirected the ball into the cage to knot the score at 3-3.

After earning a couple of chances to end the game in regulation, Colgate carried its momentum into the overtime period, helping to set up Nerbonne's game-winner. The win was the first for the Raiders against Bucknell since 2000.

The Raiders dominated the early portion of the first half, but a rebound goal by Kelly Hoffman turned the tide in the Bison's favor 27:40 into the game. Four minutes later, Bucknell scored off another rebound, as Chyncia Smith capitalized on a failed penalty corner.

The Bison took a 2-0 lead into halftime, and scored again just 1:37 into the second half. Hoffman had a scoring chance, but was denied; the ball came out on the right side of the cage, and Morgan Kauffman was there to bang it home.

Raider sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Pedersen (State College, Pa.) earned the win after making four saves. Bucknell's Atieh made more saves in the overtime, three, than she had the rest of the game to finish with five stops. Colgate received 10 corners to Bucknell's five, including one in overtime.

The Raiders continue Patriot League play when they host Lafayette on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 11:00 a.m., at Tyler's Field. Admission to all Colgate field hockey home games is free.