SALISBURY, MD. – November 10, 2007 - The Springfield College field hockey team advanced to the Elite Eight for the second time in three years on Saturday afternoon after it upset Christopher Newport, 2-1, in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.

Allie Eisele (Walton, N.Y.) finished off a corner from the left hand side off a pass from Eileen Jenkins (Gorham, Maine) just 3:02 into overtime to complete the Pride's comeback victory.

With the win, the Pride now stands at 21-3 on the season and will square off against the No. 2-ranked team in the country on Sunday afternoon, Salisbury State, at 1:00 pm. The 21 wins ties a Springfield College program mark for most wins in a season, set previously in both 1999 and 2005.

The Pride fell behind early when Ashley Cybulski finished a feed from teammate Diana Golden to put the Captains up 1-0 just under 16 minutes into the game.

However, midway through the second half, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Player of the Year Jane Kelleher (Chatham, Mass.) delivered her team-leading 23rd goal of the season off a dish from Emily Murray (Booton, N.J.) to knot the game at a goal apiece.

Emma Kaplan (Ridgefield, Conn) finished with four saves in the cage for the Pride.

For the game, Springfield outshot CNU, 12-9, and held a 13-9 advantage on corners.

published: 11/10/2007