University of Albany Field Hockey Opens Season With 3-2 Overtime Win Over Virginia Commonwealth - UAlbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. - Christina Patrick took a rebound off her own shot and found the back of the cage to lead UAlbany to a 3-2 overtime win over Virginia Commonwealth in the Great Danes' season opener on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Turf Field. The game was the first of the Capital Land Classic hosted by UAlbany this weekend.

UAlbany opened the scoring in the first half with a goal by Nina Walters in the 11th minute. Walters deflected a shot from Suzy Clephane off a penalty corner to put the Great Danes on top. VCU tied the game at 1-1 just before halftime as Kelsey Scherrer and Emilie Soares capitalized on a two-on-one opportunity with UAlbany goalkeeper Christine Hoffman. Soares handed the ball off to Scherrer, who found the back of the cage at 27:16.

UAlbany came out of the halftime break and broke the tie in the 45th minute when Alysia Hough took a one-on-one opportunity with VCU keeper Erin Jablonski and took a shot into the lower left corner of the cage. With just over ten minutes left to play, the Rams' Chelsea Hill got UAlbany goalkeeper Kristi Troch to come out of the cage, and took a shot from the top right of the circle to knot the game at 2-2. Patrick ended the game just six minutes into the extra period, as she gathered her own rebound off Jablonski's pads and found the lower right corner of the cage.

The Great Danes outshot the Rams, 21-10, and held a 9-4 advantage in penalty corners. Hoffman made one save as the UAlbany starter, while Troch made four stops in the second half and overtime period. Jablonski went the distance for VCU, making six saves.

UAlbany (1-0) will return to action on Sunday, as they take on Hofstra at noon. VCU (0-1) will face Boston University in the second game of the day at 2:30 p.m. Boston U. (1-0) defeated Hofstra (0-1) in Saturday's second match-up at Alumni Turf Field.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information