WASHINGTON, Pa. -- For the first time as North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opponents, the Allegheny College field hockey team beat Washington and Jefferson College, as the Gators opened the conference portion of the 2023 schedule with a 4-3 overtime victory inside Cameron Stadium on Wednesday night.

Trailing 3-1 entering the fourth quarter, the Gators (2-3, 1-0 NCAC) began the comeback with goals from Maya Francisco (Toledo, Ohio/Maumee Valley Country Day School) and Maddy Keenan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Trafford). Francisco cut the deficit to one just a minute-and-a-half into the fourth quarter, following up her own rebound with a second-chance attempt. With approximately six minutes left in regulation, Francisco thought she netted the game-tying goal, too. Although the initial shot hit the post, the goalie was well out of position, and Keenan tapped the ball into the cage to even the score at 3-all.

The Presidents (1-3, 0-1 NCAC) nearly ended the contest in regulation with numerous chances in the closing minutes. Allegheny goalie Meredythe Baird (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer) was up to the task, however, and made a pair of kick saves to force overtime.

Baird also made a big stop on a penalty corner in overtime. Her right-footed save was the beginning of a successful clear by the Gator defense, which flipped the field and put Emily Robles (Burlington Township, N.J./Burlington Township) in position for the game-winner.

The officials called a foul against the Presidents at the 20-yard line, and with a quick restart, Robles raced around the W&J defense. Her five-yard shot from the right side of the cage found the back of the net despite heavy traffic in front of the goal, sealing the win for the Gators.

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny finished with a 19-to-12 advantage in shots and a 14-to-9 lead in shots on goal.
• Washington and Jefferson held a slim lead in penalty corners, 9-to-8.
• Francisco finished with a team-high three points (1g-1a).
• Ramsay Smith (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette), Keenan, and Robles each scored once.
• Hailey Wachowiak led all scorers with a hat trick for W&J.
• Baird made six saves while playing all 68:11 in goal for the Gators.

News and Notes

• Allegheny improved to 2-3 overall and 1-0 against NCAC opponents.
• The Gators have won four consecutive games against Washington and Jefferson, and two of the last three meetings were decided in overtime or a shootout.
• Four goals are a season-high for the Allegheny offense.
• Smith, who missed the entire 2022 season due to injury, scored her first goal since October 30, 2021.
• Three points are a season-high for Francisco.
• Keenan has scored a goal in back-to-back games.
• Six saves are a new single-game career-high for Baird.

Up Next
The Gators travel to Denison University for another NCAC bout on Saturday, September 16, at 11:00 a.m.