Box Score FARMINGTON, Maine -- Lorri Hiltz (Norridgewock, Maine) converted a sudden-victory stroke to lift No. 5 Husson University to a 3-2 North Atlantic Conference Quarterfinal win over No. 4 University of Maine at Farmington this afternoon at Prescott Field.
The Eagles (9-8) advance to the NAC Semifinals against the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal featuring top-seeded Castleton State College (11-7) and No. 8 Lasell College (3-14). The Beavers finished their season.
After 70 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of 7-v-7 overtime and a round of penalty strokes, the quarterfinal came down to sudden-victory strokes. After UMF's Lily Barry (Hermon, Maine) was stopped by Husson keeper Kristen Capen (Leeds, Maine), Hiltz sent the Eagles to the win.
The Beavers were up a stroke twice in the round of five, but Husson was able to battle back to force sudden victory. Capen and UMF netminder Curran Brierley (East Hampton, N.Y.) each made a pair of stops in the initial stroke-off.
Hiltz' game-winner capped a wild quartefinal, which featured the Beavers rallying from an early two-goal deficit to tie the game with 2:49 left in regulation and send the game into overtime. Jessica Martin (Winthrop, Maine) tied the contest at 2-2 for the Beavers off a play ahead by Renee DesPres (Skowhegan, Maine).
Each team earned a handful of chances in the extra sessions with six shots for both teams and 10 corners for the Eagles. With two minutes remaining in the second overtime, Capen stoned UMF's Kaitlyn Bullen (Farmington, Maine) and Chelsea Morley (York, Maine) to send the game into strokes.
Kara Poirier (Berlin, N.H.) scored off a Hiltz feed and Vaillancourt completed a penalty corner to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage 15:51 into the game. Sara Lane (Hiram, Maine) cut the lead to 2-1 with an unassisted score at 19:12.
The Beavers held a 14-3 command in shots in the second half and were finally able to break through on Martin's tying effort to force overtime at 2-2.
Capen registered 23 saves for the Eagles, who were outshot 29-16 in the game. Husson took 23 corners to UMF's 16. Samantha Blanchard (Corinth, Maine) also made a defensive save on UMF's Annie Agnew (Guilford, Maine).
Brierley finished with eight saves.
Eagles' Head Coach Jen Johnstone was thrilled with the overtime victory on the road, "It was great to get a win today in such a close competition. Our defense and goalkeeper showed great patience and confidence today. After playing in every possible aspect of the game today, the team gained experience that will ready us for the next opponent."
The Eagles will look to the Castleton State vs. Lasell matchup tomorrow afternoon to find who they will play in their semifinal matchup on Wednesday, November 2nd against an opponent that will be to be determined.