Saratoga defeats Shaker 2-1 in shootout after 1-1 tie in Pink Game
SARATOGASPRINGS, NY » After Saratoga and Shaker played to a scoreless tie in the first half of their field hockey game onWednesday night, the second half featured much more of a back-and-forth, capping offina shootout for the game.
“At halftime our coach asked us how badly we wanted to win this,” said Saratoga sophomore forward Aubrey Ide. “I really felt like thatmade an impact on all of us to work together and we knew that we had to get it done. We all really wanted it.”
The Blue Bison took scored first, late in the third quarter, but the Blue Streaks responded early in the fourth. After ending regulation and overtime with the score tied 1-1, it went to a shootout. Saratoga came out on top, winning the shootout 2-1, in a night that was their Pink Game, to raise awareness of breast cancer.
“This game was our Pink Game for Breast Cancer and we do it every year. We raise money, wear pink socks, pink bows, and even pink masks,”
Ide said.
Saratoga coach JoAnne Hostig elaborated on the importance of their fundraiser.
“We are just hoping to bring more awareness to the cause because there have been people in our community and on our staff that have been impacted by breast cancer,” she said.
Ide was the one that came through in the clutch in the fourth quarter, tying the game at one for theBlue
Streaks. After the overtime period ended still in a tie, Ide added the first goal in the shootout for Saratoga.
“You definitely need to go in with a lot of confidence and our entire team was hyping each other up, we were there for each other and I think that’s why we were successful tonight,” she said. “It was very exciting, but we knew we couldn’t stop there and we needed to get more.”
The second shootout goal was scored by junior midfielder Riley Jameson, which proved to be too much for Shaker to overcome. Shortly after, senior goalie Emma Piccirillo clinched the final save for Saratoga, only allowing one shot to get past her during the shootout.
“We put a tremendous pressure on them in the fourth quarter and their goalie is good. We got corners, we had opportunities, we just had to keep shooting,” Hostig said. “I think after Shaker scored, that really rattled us. We realized it could go either way and we really started to show up.” SARATOGA 1 (2), SHAKER 1 (1)
Saratoga 0- 0- 0-1- 0 - 1 (Shootout 2) Shaker 0- 0-1- 0- 0 - 1 (Shootout 1)