Hockey Snaps Losing Streak

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WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University field hockey team snapped a 15-match losing streak Tuesday afternoon with a 2-1 non-league victory over Wilson College in the season opener for both teams.

Freshman Katie Johnson made her first career goal a special one, scoring 37 seconds into the second overtime to give the Hornets (1-0) the OT victory over Wilson (0-1).

Taking the ball to start the second sudden-victory overtime session, Shenandoah moved the ball down into the offensive zone, where Johnson tucked the ball past Nikola Graffneterova for the game-winner.

The win is the first for SU since the squad ended the 2007 season with a shutout victory over Hood College.

Casey Hertel had given the hosts the early lead when she converted a cross from Paola Aguilar right on the doorstep in the 40th minute. Aguilar drew Grafnetterova out-of-position and slid the ball to Hertel standing on the goalline.

Wilson answered back on a Liesel Troshak goal 18 minutes later, and the two teams played the final 12 minutes of regulation and the first 15-minute sudden victory period without a goal to set up Johnson's moment.

Shenandoah outshot its visitors 15-4 with Grafnetterova making 11 saves.

SU is off until hosting Roanoke on September 12 in another non-league contest.