EAST ROCKAWAY, N.Y. (Sept. 25, 2016) - It took an extra 12 minutes after a goalless regulation, but the Molloy College field hockey team can exalt in celebration with the first win in program history coming on Sunday (Sept. 25) in a 1-0 triumph against Saint Michael's College at Bay Park in East Rockaway. Junior forward Jessica Waszcak (Northport, N.Y.) came up with the golden marker in the 83rd minute of action off of a feed from junior midfielder Zoe Norton (Sayville, N.Y.) to claim sudden victory for the maroon and white.

A competitive contest saw Saint Michael's outshoot Molloy by a 29-19 margin, but the Purple Knights only had 12 shots on target to Molloy's eight. Senior goalie Abigail Bowie (Readfield, Maine) made eight saves in net while graduate netminder Arianna Ovadia (East Meadow, N.Y.) turned the Purple Knights aside at each attempt for a 12-save performance. Norton took a team-high ten shots with five on target while Waszcak posted six shots and two on goal in the victory. Juniors Caileigh Berry (Westbury, N.Y.) and Melissa Fuerst (Selden, N.Y.) also recorded shots as did senior Jackie Jamotta (Miller Place, N.Y.). 

The game entered extra time but not without a frenetic effort by the Purple Knights in the final seconds of regulation as back-to-back penalty corners resulted in a blocked shot off the stick of Maddie Dobecki (Scarborough, Maine) in the final thirty seconds of play. Ovadia came up with two important saves in the extra session, while Molloy buzzed around the offensive end looking for the strike. The historic point came following a penalty corner by senior Jillian Barbieri (Lake Grove, N.Y.) with under three minutes to go in the first overtime. Norton slid a perfect pass to Waszcak for the game-winner, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The win kicks off a four-game homestand for the maroon and white that will continue on Saturday (Oct. 1) when the Wolves of Newberry College visit Bay Park for a 12 p.m. matinee.