Chandler Gives Field Hockey a Win in Home Opener
September 16, 2004

Liz Greenwood puts the ball past USM goalkeeper Sadie Garnache-Poirier to tie the score 1-1 early in the second half on Thursday.
LEWISTON, Maine – University of Southern Maine goalkeeper Sadie Garnache-Poirier made a series of four saves, but Bates' Erin Chandler finally snuck the ball past her with just over seven minutes remaining in the first overtime period to give the Bobcat field hockey team a 2-1 win over the Huskies in their season opener Thursday afternoon.

Chandler '08 (Thornton, Pa.) finished the play which started when Brooke Anable '06 (Plymouth, N.H.) fed Mary Alice Cornig '05 (Nelson, N.H.) on the left wing. Cornig, who was uncovered, broke towards the net and appeared to have an open shot. But Garnache-Poirier came out and stacked her pads to make the save. The sophomore goalkeeper, who lost her helmet during the frantic play, made three more saves before Chandler finally ended the game with her second goal of the season.

Bates controlled the pace of play for most of the game, but it was USM which scored first, as Rachael Nimon put home a rebound off a shot by Kayla Vaughan with less than five minutes to play in the first half.

Liz Greenwood '07 (Williamstown, Mass.) tied the game for Bates, pushing her own rebound into the goal less than three minutes into the second half.

Sarah Sprague '07 (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) made 10 saves to record the win in her first career start in goal for Bates. Garnache-Poirier stopped 12 shots for the Huskies.

Bates, now 1-1 on the season, opens the New England Small College Athletic Conference schedule this Saturday at Amherst. USM, which fell to 0-6, hosts Little East rival Westfield State on Saturday.