Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--Julie O'Rourke scored 2:35 into overtime to lift No. 5 seed Worcester State University to a 2-1 victory over No. 4 seed Smith College in the quarterfinals of the ECAC New England Tournament on a freezing Wednesday afternoon.
Smith, which was making its first appearance in the ECAC tournament since 1989, sees its season end at 11-9. Â Worcester State advances to the semifinals, which will be held this Saturday at Plymouth State University, is now 12-8.
It was the first ever meeting between the two schools.
The Pioneers jumped out in front early, as
Allie Stein (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) slid a centering pass that
Marissa Vara (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) duly put home for her seventh goal of the season three minutes into the contest. Â Smith nearly doubled the advantage, as
Alexa DeJesus (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) forced a save out of WSU goalie Allison Romano in the seventh minute.
Worcester State tied the score in the 10th minute, when Katelyn Carmody netted an unassisted goal.Â
The score remained tied at one at the half, but in the second half, the Pioneers came out looking for the go-ahead goal. Â Romano stoned DeJesus in the 37th minute, and after two Smith penalty corners, Romano made a triple save, denying
Casey Rau (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), DeJesus, and
Rebecca Meagher (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) in succession. Â
Neither team generated much offense as the shadows got longer, though Romano did make another save on DeJesus in the 51st minute. Â The game headed to overtime, where Smith had been 4-0 at home since 2010.
2:35 into OT, Worcester State found the winner, when O'Rourke took a pass from Kelli McPherson, and streaked down the right side before sliding home the winner past Smith goalie
Maddi Wyda (Baltimore, Md./The Park School). Â
Romano made nine stops in the cage for WSU. Â Wyda was not called upon to make a stop. Â Smith outshot WSU 14-9, and held a slim 5-3 advantage in penalty corners.
