Briannah Thorne scored two goals, including the overtime game-winner, giving the St. Thomas Aquinas College Field Hockey team a 2-1 victory over the University of New Haven on Wednesday evening in West Haven, CT.

The Spartans and Chargers played under rainy and windy conditions at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium, due to a nor'easter making its way up the east coast. The teams kept each other off of the scoreboard for the first three quarters with solid defense and goaltending. While both squads had their fair share of scoring opportunities and big saves, neither team was willing to take any chances that would result in a costly turnover in the nasty weather.

However, it would be the visiting maroon and gold that would strike first in the early moments of the fourth quarter, as Briannah Thorne would put a backhanded shot on net that would bounce past Charger netminder Natalie Shaker to give STAC a 1-0 lead. New Haven would tie the game at one goal apiece with just under four minutes remaining in regulation, when Taylor Geaglone would tally following a penalty corner. Things would remain tied at the buzzer, forcing bonus hockey.

In overtime, Briannah Thorne would end things 2:41 into the extra session when she would net her second of the evening, putting her own rebounded shot that ricocheted off of the pads of New Haven goalie Shaker into the back of the cage to give STAC the win. Although she was not officially credited with an assist, a Lotte Strijbos penalty corner set the wheels in motion for the game-winning tally by Thorne.

Spartan keeper Suzanne Clarke (W, 5-7) went the distance and made 4 saves, while Chargers goalie Natalie Shaker (L, 5-9) stopped 6 shots directed her way during the contest.

STAC held slim margins in both shots (17-10) and penalty corners (5-3) on the evening.

St. Thomas Aquinas College (6-7) returns to the friendly confines of Spartan Field for a 1pm face-off with Mercy College on Saturday, October 19th. Senior Day festivities will take place on-field at 12:45pm.