By Tim Marcin
Elm Sports Editor
After falling to St. Mary’s College 1-0 in a heartbreaking loss, the Washington College field hockey team wanted a win in the worst way.
That win was likely not going to come easily however. Their next opponent was conference rival Johns Hopkins, a team that has plagued WC field hockey for years.
The Jays had bested the Shorewomen in their prior six games, dating back to 2005. So as the team traveled to Baltimore this past Friday, they knew a stiff challenge waited.
The Shorewomen were ready for that challenge, pulling out a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory. Their record now sits at 3-3 (1-0 Centennial Conference), and all three of their wins have come in overtime.
Sophomore Claire McAuliffe was without a doubt the star of the day. She scored both WC goals, including her second overtime winner of the year (the first coming against Wilkes just six days earlier). McAuliffe put the Shorewomen on the board first with a goal from the center of the circle mid-way through the first half. Hopkins equalized on a goal with just a minute left in the first half.
The 1-1 deadlock would last all the way through the second half and once again McAuliffe would rise to the occasion in overtime. Just over three minutes into overtime she corralled a long pass from senior Erin Lewns, beat the last defender and slammed home the golden-goal to take the huge victory.
The win not only marks the end of a losing steak to Johns Hopkins, but also puts the Shorewomen in a good position for the start of conference play. They are now 1-0 in the Centennial, where it really matters, and picked up a win against a perennially good team that finished third in the conference last year.
It is a good beginning to the gauntlet of Centennial play; all but two of the Shorewomen’s remaining games are in conference.