BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons field hockey came from behind in the second half to tie the game at two, before falling 3-2 in overtime on a long shot from Lindsay Lalonde. The Sharks (0-3) had a slight edge in shots with 25-22, including two point blank shots by junior Monica Doucette (Rockport, Maine) in overtime, but were unable to beat Golden Bears keeper Kaitlyn Hall.

The Sharks scored 28 minutes into the first half when Kelly Williamson (Natick, Mass.) sent a logn ball across the circle and found Doucette for the tip. The Simmons defense and goalkeeper Renna Smith (Belfast, Maine) denied Western New England two corners before Shelby Van Huysen found the back of the net to even the score at one.

In the second, the Golden Bears took the lead when Kaitlyn Labbe found Caitlin Foster in the slot and beat Smith for the go-ahead score. The Sharks remained on the hunt with shots by Aslyn Dindorf (Harts Location, N.H.) and Seneca Martensson (East Longmeadow, Mass.) but the Western New England defense was solid. Freshman Amy Cronin (Georgetown, Mass.) put a ball on net from the right side and in a scramble, Alexia Malone Oliver (Bristol, R.I.) scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game at two.

With stellar defense by both teams, regulation time elapsed and it was on to overtime for the decision. The Sharks tested Hall twice in the opening minutes off shots by Doucette but it was Lalonde who stepped just inside the Sharks circle and ripped a low shot that beat Smith to win the sudden-victory period.

The Sharks return to action on Sunday when they travel to Wheaton College for a 1:00 p.m. start. The Golden Bears travel to WPI on September 11th for a 4:30 start.