HARTFORD, Conn. – In a thrilling 5-4 victory, the Bantams triumphed over the visiting Roger Williams University Hawks on Saturday morning at Robin L. Sheppard Field. With this win, the Bantams improved their record to 5-4, while the Hawks fell to 7-3 overall.
The Bantams struck first, with Aly Janssen scoring just 2:04 into the game. Trinity's first-year forward skillfully dodged past the Hawks' defense, setting up a one-on-one opportunity against the RWU goalkeeper. Janssen expertly slipped the ball beneath the goalkeeper as she went for the tackle. The Hawks responded quickly, with Chelsea King netting the equalizer at the 2:48 mark, making it 1-1.
Trinity maintained its high energy as Janssen dribbled to the top of the circle after receiving a flat pass from Brooke DiBiase on the far sideline. She found Nina Falkson cutting to the stroke line, and Falkson executed a reverse shot that sneaked past the Hawks' goalkeeper, putting the Bantams ahead 2-1 at 3:39.
For the remainder of the half, both teams traded shots, but neither could find the back of the net in the second quarter. The Bantams entered the third quarter with a narrow 2-1 lead.
RWU struck again at the 32-minute mark with a shot from Maddy Monahan that deflected off Bantams goalkeeper Hayley Gable's pads and landed in the path of Hannah Timbrouk, who tipped in the equalizer. However, Trinity responded swiftly. During a penalty corner, DiBiase fired a shot from the top left side of the circle, which bounced off Hannah Brazil's pads and into the control of senior Maeve Hymovits. Hymovits quickly scored the Bantams' third goal of the game.
With just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, RWU's Chelsea King maneuvered past the Bantam defense along the end line, lifting the ball over Gable's head and into the back left corner of the cage.
The Bantams were awarded a penalty stroke, taken by senior defender Izzy Deveney. She flicked the ball into the top left corner of the cage, putting Trinity back in the lead at 4-3. However, with just seven seconds remaining in the game, the Bantams committed a foul that gave the Hawks a penalty corner. Maddy Monahan seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful one-touch drive from the top left of the circle into the far corner, sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, RWU outshot the Bantams 8-4, despite Trinity earning 6 penalty corners compared to the Hawks' 5. Just one minute into the first overtime, the Hawks were awarded a penalty stroke. Elizabeth Duquette stepped up to take the stroke but sent the ball wide right of the cage, missing a crucial opportunity. A massive defensive save by Izzy Deveney kept the Bantams alive halfway through the overtime, as RWU's Chelsea King attempted to lift the ball over Gable. Deveney denied King's shot, hitting it out of the air and redirecting the ball down the end line.
The Bantams, eager to secure the win, maintained control in the second overtime. In just three minutes of play, they registered two penalty corners and two shots, culminating in a game-winning goal by Aly Janssen, sealing a 5-4 victory over the RWU Hawks.
Overall, the Bantams outshot RWU 32-22, with an 18-14 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams earned double-digit corner opportunities, with Trinity tallying 22 to RWU's 14. Bantams goalkeeper Hayley Gable recorded 10 saves, while the Hawks split time in goal, with Jill Haudenshield logging three minutes and Hannah Brazil finishing the game with 12 saves.
Trinity will head to Tufts University for a NESCAC clash against the Jumbos on Saturday October, 5th at 12:00PM.
