Hancock's overtime goal lifts No. 3 Salisbury past No. 13 Christopher Newport

SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 3 Salisbury University field hockey team turned the tables on No. 13 Christopher Newport University on Wednesday evening at Sea Gull Stadium. SU snapped a two-game losing streak to the Captains with a 2-1 overtime victory before a crowd of 300 under the lights.

Sophomore Kandice Hancock delivered the knock out punch when she ripped the game-winning goal from the top of the arc, four minutes into the extra period, past CNU goalie Elexa Nosonchuk (12 saves).

This is the fourth consecutive time in the series history that the game has been decided by the 2-1 margin. CNU (1-2) handed Salisbury its only regular-season loss in '07 and the year before the Captains derailed the Sea Gulls bid for a fourth consecutive national championship with an overtime upset in the NCAA tournament second round. SU currently holds the series lead, 7-2.

It was a defensive struggle in the first half as the two teams went into halftime scoreless, 0-0. CNU was the first on the board when senior Haylie Black scored her second goal of the young season off a pass from Kylie Cale in the 45th minute.

The Sea Gulls (2-0) trailed for just eight minutes in the game as junior Lauren Correll tied the game as she scored an unassisted goal at the 52:32 mark. The game tying goal was set-up on a Hancock centering pass from the right side of the cage to Correll who fired a shot that was saved by Nosonchuk. The ball bounced off Nosonchuk's leg pad and onto Correll's stick for the rebound goal.

SU's young defense appeared in control as they held CNU to just two shots. Salisbury sophomore goalie Claire Davey-Karlson started and earned the shutout victory. The Sea Gulls had 21 shots in the game, three in the overtime period. SU also took 18 penalty corners while CNU only had six.

The maroon and gold will prepare to host their annual SU Invitational this weekend at Sea Gull Stadium. The two-day tournament will feature SU, Denison University, SUNY Brockport and Frostburg State University. The Sea Gulls begin Saturday's schedule with a 7:30 a.m. contest with Denison followed by a 12:30 p.m. game with SUNY Brockport. There will be four games on Saturday and two on Sunday morning.