The Misericordia University women's field hockey team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to send the game into overtime, but Amanda DeChent scored her 15^th goal of the season in the extra frame as the Cougars dropped a heartbreaker to Manhattanville, 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at McGeehan Field.
 
“This was a hard-fought game,” said Cougar goalkeeper Haley Brandt. “We were down and we came back and we wanted it. Unfortunately, we came up a goal short.”
 
Emily Hegner had a goal and an assist, and Terra Hall and Hannah Harvey each added goals in the losing effort.
 
The game was a stalemate for much of the first half, with both defenses having strong showings.  The Valiants' Rylee McGuire opened the scoring in the 23^rd minute off a pass from DeChent following a penalty corner to put Manhattanville up 1-0.
 
DeChent got on the board herself in the 41^st minute to give the Valiants a 2-0 cushion.
 
“She's a dangerous player,” said MU midfielder Emily Hegner of DeChent. “we knew from the scouting report that we would have to be aware of her and really key on her and limit her chances. We did that, but she was still able to convert on a few.”
 
Hall closed the gap to one goal in the 47^th minute on a pass from Hegner, but Melissa Goncalves responded just a minute later to push the Valiants lead back to two goals at 3-1.
 
Hegner got a goal of her own in the 58^th minute, taking a ball from Lindsay Hischak to make the score 3-2.
 
“Lindsay hit a big ball across to me,” said Hegner. “The goal wide open, and thankfully I was able to put it in.”
 
The Cougar offense continued to surge, and once again, it was Hischak who found Harvey, who slammed it home to tie the score at 3-3 in the 64^th minute.
 
“We had a lot of great offensive pushes today,” said Hegner. “Our attack was far stronger than it has been in recent games, and it showed on the scoreboard.”
 
The Cougars had several good late looks, but neither team managed to find the back of the net, sending the game into overtime.
 
Both teams were attacking hard in the 7-on-7 format, with Manhattanville holding a slight 6-4 edge in shots during the extra frame. 
 
It appeared as if the Valiants might take the lead in the 79^th minute, when Julia Esposito ripped a shot off a cross, but Brandt dove in to make the save and then was able to clear a second rebound attempt to prolong the game.
 
 
“We really practiced these past few days on those hard shots and the rebounds,” said Brandt, who finished the game with 15 saves. “I had to really focus on each and every attack.”
 
DeChent eventually broke the tie off a corner entry from Goncalves to end the game.
 
The Cougars have little time to rest, as they turn around to face #8 Catholic tomorrow at 1:00 PM.
 
“We have another game tomorrow,” Brandt concluded. “We have to get right back out there and fight even harder.”