Box Score

Fairfield, Conn. – Junior forward Julianne Alspaugh (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) broke a scoreless tie in the 86^th minute and gave the Robert Morris University field hockey team a 1-0 victory over Sacred Heart in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this afternoon.

The win is RMU's eighth of the season, which ties a program high single-season win total. The Colonials also won eight games in 2011.

"The team played RMU field hockey today," said head coach Olivia Netzler. "We excelled with strong basics and good ball movement."

RMU outshot the Pioneers in the first half, 9-6, but couldn't get the ball past Sacred Heart goalkeeper Mary Altepeter. Senior Eloise Irwin (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin) and junior Taleah Scott (Crookwell, Australia / Crookwell) each had scoring chances off a penalty corner in the 28^th minute, but they were both stopped by Altepeter.

After a scoreless first half, the Pioneers would test sophomore goalkeeper Emma Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. / Susquehanna Township) – who was making her first career start – in the last 35 minutes of regulation. Singer stopped a penalty corner opportunity from Rachel Claroni, and also made two big saves in the last five minutes of the half to keep it at 0-0.

There were opportunities for both teams in the first overtime, but the goalkeepers held strong. Singer stopped a shot from Liz Bergman a minute into the first extra period, and Altepeter sent away a shot from sophomore Jess Martin-Brown (Mount Gambier, Australia / University of Adelaide) with seconds left in the overtime.

The Colonials would break through 53 seconds into the second overtime. Martin-Brown stole the ball and brought it into the circle. Alspaugh found an opening in the Sacred Heart defense and received the pass from Martin-Brown, and the junior buried the ball into the back of the net. The goal was Alspaugh's second of the season and the second of her career – the first of those came in RMU's 5-2 victory over Ohio three weeks ago.

RMU held advantages in shots (17 to 14) and shots on goal (9 to 8). The Pioneers finished with a slight 13-12 edge in penalty corners.

Singer registered her first career shutout, making six saves on the afternoon.

The Colonials return to Joe Walton Stadium next weekend for their first home contests of MAAC play. RMU plays under the lights on Friday night against Bryant at 7:00 p.m., and then will take on Siena at noon on Sunday.