ANNVILLE, Pa. --- Shenandoah University won its first-ever ECAC Championship Sunday with a 3-2 overtime victory over host Lebanon Valley in the Division III Field Hockey Tournament.
Tournament MVP Taylor Hayes scored all three goals for Shenandoah (17-4) to give the Hornets the title in the five-team tournament.
IN DEPTH
The three-time All-ODAC honoree netted the game-winner 6:16 into sudden victory overtime by one-timing a feed from sophomore Kelsey Jones.
For Jones, the assist represented her nation leading 24thof the season.
The tally was needed as Lebanon Valley (13-8) answered a two-goal from Hayes to tie game at 2-2 with 9:02 left.
The Dutchmen had five more shots in regulation but Shenandoah came up with three saves – two by goalkeeper Isabella Morande along with a defensive save by Hayes.
Hayes' defensive stop came with 2:16 remaining in regulation.
HOW IT HAPPENED
11:08 LVC | Cecile Kat
12:07 SU | Taylor Hayes
27:09 SU | Taylor Hayes
50:58 LVC | Danielle Alba (Cecile Kat)
66:16 SU | Taylor Hayes (Kelsey Jones)
QUOTABLE
"Today was an amazing day for our program," head coach Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft said. "Each and every player on this team left their all on the field this season. I'm incredibly proud of their effort and the amazing individuals they are."
NOTES
- The ECAC championship is the first-ever for the department
- Field hockey has now won two championships – an ODAC title in 2016 was the first
- The 17 wins is a new program record
- Hayes' final goal gives her a program record 47 points this season – she set the previous mark of 46 in 2018
- Hayes' 19 goals and Jones' 24 assists are both program season records
- Hayes, Jones, Morande, Colleen Schneider and Lauren Tyre and all were named to the All-Tournament team
- Hayes was named as the Tournament MVP
--- This release is courtesy of the Shenandoah University athletic communications department. ---
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