STANDISH, Maine – Junior Zoey Lailer (Limington, Maine) scored 54 seconds into double overtime to lift fourth-seeded Saint Joseph's College (10-9) past fifth-seeded New England College (10-8), 1-0, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Tournament quarterfinal Saturday at the SJC Athletics Complex.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:
With the thrilling victory, Saint Joseph's advances to the semifinal round for the third consecutive season and will play at top-seeded Colby-Sawyer College on Wednesday, start time TBD. The Chargers defeated #8 Rivier University, 4-1, in other quarterfinal action this afternoon.
For NEC, the loss signals the end of the 2026 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saint Joseph's generated early pressure, putting three shots on goal in the opening six minutes, but NEC goalkeeper Annie Raduazzo turned away each attempt. The Monks held a 5-3 advantage in shots and a 6-2 lead in penalty corners at halftime, while senior goalkeeper Kimberley McLaughlin (Lewiston, Maine) stopped consecutive bids by Kameryn Mazzulli six seconds apart late in the second quarter.
The Pilgrims pushed back in the third quarter with a 5-1 advantage in shots and three penalty corners, but the SJC defense kept the visitors off the board. Both goalkeepers made key stops in the final minute of regulation, as McLaughlin denied Kylee Henriquez at 59:26 and Raduazzo stopped freshman Kayla Magnant (Biddeford, Maine), who was sprung free on a short breakaway with a great lead pass from Markham, with one second remaining.
Saint Joseph's controlled the extra sessions, outshooting NEC by a combined 5-0 margin. Raduazzo made three saves in the first overtime, including stops on freshman Dasia Alberico (Skowhegan, Maine) at 69:44 and sophomore Ava Markham (Belfast, Maine) as the period expired.
The Monks finally broke through following a penalty corner early in the second overtime. Sophomore Myia SeeHusen (Corinna, Maine) inserted at 70:34, and Markham had a shot blocked before setting up Lailer's fifth goal of the season at 70:54 to send Saint Joseph's into the next round.
TEAM STATS:
Saint Joseph's held the advantage in shots (14-9), shots on goal (8-4), and penalty corners (10-5) in the tournament contest.
THE KEEPERS:
McLaughlin made four saves over 70:54 to earn the shutout, while Raduazzo recorded seven stops for the Pilgrims.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's improved to 8-4 all-time against New England College with its third consecutive victory in the series. Both meetings this fall required double overtime, as Markham scored the winner in a 2-1 triumph over the Pilgrims on October 10.
The Monks have now won a GNAC quarterfinal in each of Head Coach Theresa Arsenault's three seasons.
