LOWELL, Mass. – No. 4 Seed California fought back from a 2-1 deficit to score late in the fourth and came away with its first-ever America East Championship, taking down defending champion UAlbany 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Wicked Blue Field on the campus of UMass Lowell.
Holly Pears ripped home the game-winner five minutes into overtime, lifting the Golden Bears to the Championship and a raucous post-game celebration.
With the win, they punched their ticket to the NCAA Field Hockey Championship and will learn their tournament fate during the NCAA Selection Show, which takes place tonight at 10 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.
Daniella Rhodes was named the Most Outstanding Player as she recorded four goals and one assist over the course of the tournament. She was joined on the All-Championship team by goalkeeper Tina Jolly, Claire Hind and Kiki de Bruijne. UAlbany’s Alison Smisdom was selected to the All-Championship team with teammates Floor de Ruiter and Charlotte Triggs.
#4 California 3, #2 UAlbany 2 (OT)
- Cal jumped out to a 1-0 lead 8:35 into the contest on a goal my Maria Cambra Soler off a Daniella Rhodes feed.
- UAlbany answered back right before the half, as Smisdom scored off a penalty corner with just 14 seconds remaining.
- Floor de Ruiter added to the Great Dane lead two minutes into the fourth quarter, ripping a shot from the top of the penalty circle.
- The score remained 2-1 until Bente Baekers one-timed home the equalizer with 5:19 remaining in regulation.
- In overtime, it was Holly Pears who played the hero with a reverse chip in for the game-winner at 65:16.
- Tina Jolly eight saves while earning the win in net as the Golden Bears were outshot 16-8 in the contest.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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