Wellesley, Mass. – November 7, 2009 – Meg Bradley sent the game into overtime with 1:09 left in regulation and Becca Gamble scored the game-winner 1:47 into the extra session as the Springfield College field hockey team defeated Wellesley, 3-2, in an thrilling overtime victory in the semifinals of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament.

Springfield will take on MIT in the NEWMAC Finals tomorrow at Wellesley College at 1pm.  The Pride entered the tournament as the five-time defending champion and was seeded fourth as it upset the top-seeded Blue.

The win improves Springfield to 12-8 overall, while Wellesley ends the 2009 campaign with an identical 12-8 record.

The Blue took an early lead when Callie Lekas scored on a perfectly executed penalty corner from Dana Trail and Kate Cushing.  Wellesley would hold the 1-0 lead until late in the second half, when SpringfieldÂ's Alexa Carlson connected to tie the score at 1-1 in the 49th minutes, on an assist from Morgan Rein. 

Wellesley took the lead again when Lekas got around the Springfield defense to tally her second goal of the game, pushing the Blue lead to 2-1 with 16 minutes to play.

With time ticking off the clock, Wellesley appeared to have the game in hand, but SpringfieldÂ's Bradley scored on an assist from Meagan Dobson in the final minute to send the game into overtime.  

Gamble scored the game-winner off a feed from Bradley just one minute into the extra period to secure the win for Springfield and send the Pride to the NEWMAC Championship.

First-year goalie Anna Calano had two saves for the Pride.  Wellesley goalie Sarina Sawyer had five saves in the loss.