Field Hockey clinches overtime victory over Bridgewater: Shows support for breast cancer survivors
By Taylor Kimmell
Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams hosted the Bridgewater State Bears Oct. 27 for their final matchup of the regular season, winning 5-4. This overtime victory improves their conference record to 5-5 and their overall record to 8-10, ranking them fourth in the conference coming into the postseason. This game meant more to the Rams than the outcome, as the team came together to celebrate survivors and support those currently impacted by breast cancer during their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game. The team decorated the field with pink streamers, balloons, and posters that sported sayings such as “Stand Tall Against Cancer,” “No One Fights Alone,” and “Who We Play For,” the last of which was covered with the names of friends and family members who have been impacted. Volunteers stood by the field’s entrance to hand out pink ribbon pins and bracelets, and many of the players took to the field sporting pink hair ribbons, headbands, and face glitter to show their support. Freshman Sydney Walters said this game was “about playing for people who have died or are suffering through this terrible illness. Breast cancer is very strong in my family, so it’s about playing for them.” Senior Allie Harmuth said, “It’s about playing for something that’s bigger than us, bigger than our team, bigger than our school, bigger than this sport. There’s just so much bad in the world, and sometimes, we want to bring awareness to these things.” Captain Finley Hogan, a junior, said this tradition “means the world to me and the team because we all know someone who has fought or is still fighting breast cancer. Being able to support them, even just by acknowledging their fight, is super important to us.” The Rams started the action with a shot from Captain Ashley Malmquist, a senior, 4 minutes in, which was defended by BSU’s goalkeeper, Aubrey Finn. Walters received the deflection from Finn's save, sending in another shot. Finn blocked this one as well, but could not defend against Walters’ next shot on the following play, which found the back of the net for the first goal of the match. Bridgewater maintained steady possession of the ball for the next 7 minutes, but despite their pressure on the Rams’ goal, defensive saves by Harmuth and sophomore goalkeeper Aubrey Jenkins kept FSU in the lead. At the 12-minute mark, junior Finley Hogan sent in two shots, both blocked by Finn. Following the second shot, the Rams earned a corner, but were unable to capitalize on it. The quarter ended after a shot by BSU that was saved by Jenkins. Less than 3 minutes into the second quarter, Framingham increased its lead with a goal by Hogan. Bridgewater was able to find footing in the following few minutes, scoring their first goal at 23:16. FSU regained possession shortly after, with two shots by Hogan saved by Finn, which led to another goal by Walters on an assist by Malmquist. The Bears brought the ball down the field again, and, after their first and second attempts were defended by Jenkins and junior Reese Neale, they found the back of the net to bring the game to 3-2, the Rams still in the lead. The third quarter started with both teams on a strong defensive streak. The Rams and Bears traded shots and corners until, at the 43-minute mark, Walters secured her third goal of the match - a hat trick for the final regular season game of her first season. Walters said her hat trick was the cherry on top of an already stellar game. “It was really fun - it was a great game, and I’m just really happy to contribute to the win. Bridgewater is a tough team.” Bridgewater opened the fourth quarter with a goal in the first 40 seconds to bring the score to 4-3 FSU. BSU worked to even the score, outshooting the Rams 10-3 in the following 14 minutes. Finally, they found a gap, bringing the score to 4-4 with a last-minute goal, threatening to send the game into overtime. FSU attempted to score in the final 10 seconds, earning a corner, but after a missed shot by Malmquist at 59:59, it was clear the match would continue for an extra quarter. BSU came into the overtime period with a strong offensive push, but their attempts to score were opposed by Jenkins. After the Rams’ defense cleared the ball, Hogan took it and sprinted down the field for a one-on-one against Finn. Hogan’s first shot bounced off Finn’s pads, but she collected the rebound and sent it into the back corner of the net, securing the Rams’ 5-4 victory. Hogan said, “To win our last game is going to help our momentum going into the postseason, so that's really exciting. Being able to score the OT game winner is huge and such a privilege that my teammates helped me achieve.” This goal was a big deal for Hogan, as it allowed her to both tie the record for the number of goals scored in a season, 20, and break the record for the number of points in a season, 44. Both records were set by Kristen Sacco in 2009. Hogan said it “means a ton to me to have achieved something like that. … I didn’t even know it was a possibility until halfway through this season.” The Rams’ will host Fitchburg for their first game of the MASCAC tournament, the date still to be determined. Walters said, “We’re feeling great. This win could move us up a seed, especially since our first game will be on home turf, so I think that could help us be able to move on.” Harmuth said, “Obviously, we want to win the MASCAC. This next game against Fitchburg is going to be really hard. We played them in the first round last year, and we upset them, so they’re going to come back hard.”
