BANGOR, ME – Courtney Rague '11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME) scored four minutes into extra play to lift Saint Joseph's (5-2, 2-0 NAC) past Husson University (2-4, 0-1 NAC), 3-2, in a key North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey contest on Saturday afternoon. 

For St. Joe's, the victory over Husson helps lessen the sting of the NAC Semifinal loss to the Eagles last fall. The Monks went undefeated in conference play and earned the #1 seed in the 2009 NAC Tournament, but fell to Husson, 3-2, in a stroke-off after 100 minutes of regulation and overtime play failed to yield a victor. The Eagles went on to win the NAC Championship and earned the conference automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament.

The Eagles controlled the pace of play for the majority of the first half, as the hosts outshot the visitors by an 18-4 margin and held a 9-2 advantage in penalty corners in the first stanza. Despite the lopsided numbers, the Monks were able to hold the Eagles scoreless as the teams headed into the intermission with a pair of zeroes on the board.

The deadlock ceased in the 48th minute of play when Eagles senior Caroline Bochtler (Turner, ME) scored off a corner to stake her team to a 1-0 cushion. Bochtler beat SJC keeper Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) with a long shot from the top of the circle off a Helen Berry '11 (Belfast, ME) pass.  

St. Joe's rallied with a pair of goals in rapid succession, as Rachelle Messuri '14 (Atkinson, NH) and Melanie Allen '13 (Jackson, NH) scored just 2:33 apart to propel the Royal Blue to a 2-1 lead. Messuri scored off a deflection in the 51st minute and Allen put the ball past Husson netminder Kristen Capen '13 (Leeds, ME), off a corner, at the 52:37 mark. Rague was credited with an assist on Allen's go-ahead goal.

 The Monks' advantage wouldn't last long, however, as Lorri Hiltz '12 (Norridgewock, ME) managed to tie the game off a penalty corner eight minutes later. Berry earned her second assist of the afternoon on the tying marker.

Despite numerous chances for both teams throughout the remainder of the second half, neither was able to achieve the game winner in regulation play.

The Eagles held advantages in shots (12-9) and corners (8-5) in the latter stanza, but the momentum swung in the Monks' favor early in the extra frame.

A point-blank shot by Kayla Nowell '11 (Bridgton, ME) appeared destined for the Husson cage but was kicked away by Capen 1:15 into the overtime period. Minutes later, Rague carried the ball the length of the field and past the Husson defense, but Capen came off her line and made a game-saving stop. 

Not to be denied, Rague followed up her near-score with the game-winner just 26 seconds later, as the senior issued a high strike to Capen's right side off a corner to lift the Monks to a thrilling overtime victory.

Johnson recorded a career-high 19 saves in the victory, while Capen made seven stops in net for the Eagles.

Husson held advantages in shots (30-17) and penalty corners (17-9) in the loss. With the win, St. Joe's improves to 12-14 in the history of the matchup against the Eagles.

Saint Joseph's will host NAC opponent Rivier College on Saturday, October 2nd at 11:00 AM.