NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Centre field hockey is advancing past No. 17 Christopher Newport after a thrilling 2-1 victory in double overtime Wednesday afternoon, securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals with a thrilling win inside Jennings Family Stadium.
 
Maran Lee hit the back of the cage after a penalty corner as time expired in the second overtime session, lifting the Colonels to 15-3 overall and into the NCAA "Sweet 16" for the fourth time in program history.
 
The host Captains finish their season 11-6 overall after being stymied by Sienna Joseph, who turned in a career-high 10 saves.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Lee had a shot saved midway through the opening quarter, but much of the first period was spent on the other end of the field as Captains maintained offensive pressure.
- The Colonel defense held firm, however, disrupting CNU enough to allow only three shots on goal – each of which was saved by Joseph.
- Centre bounced back with a strong second quarter, holding much of the attacking possession and gathering two penalty corners along the way. Still, the two sides remained scoreless into the halftime break.
- The third quarter passed without much incident. Perhaps the key play defensively came when Bella Estes blocked a shot following a CNU penalty corner early in the period.
- Megan Coomes eventually broke the scoreless draw with six minutes left in the game, stealing possession and quickly beating the keeper to put the Colonels on the board with her team-leading 12th goal of the year.
- The Captains responded minutes later on a penalty stroke goal from Marcella Sabbagh to level the score. Joseph recorded a late save to help preserve the tie and force overtime.
- Joseph was magnificent in the extra sessions, recording half of her saves to keep the Colonels alive time and again.
- With :02 on the clock in the second overtime, Centre earned one final penalty corner chance – its 11th of the afternoon. Coomes inserted to Lee, who scored her eighth goal of the season to end the contest.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Joseph's previous career high was seven saves, set earlier this season in a victory over Rhodes (Oct. 16). It's most saves from a Colonel since Lena Jewler's 10-save effort back on Sept. 6, 2015 against Mary Washington.
- CNU held advantages in total shots (23-19) and shots on goal (11-8), while Centre finished with an edge in corner opportunities (11-8).
- Lee had eight shots for the Colonels and Meredith Wickenheiser followed with six.
 
COLONEL QUOTES
Head Coach Jenelle Downs: "A second chance is a very powerful thing. We spoke about it on the bus from our overtime SAA Championship loss, and in that same time, we found out we got the bid. Another day to put on our Centre uniforms, another day to go forward as a family, and another opportunity to play the game we love. We had nothing to lose and everything to gain and the team fully believed that and bought in."
 
UP NEXT
Centre travels to Baltimore to meet No. 5 Bowdoin, which defeated Eastern Connecticut State 9-0 in Wednesday's opening round. The "Sweet 16" and quarterfinal rounds are hosted by Johns Hopkins beginning Nov. 13.