Henniker, N.H. – New England College's Cody Kent (Rye, N.H.) scored the game-winning goal just 2:17 into the first overtime lifting the Pilgrim field hockey team past visiting Clark University, 2-1, Sunday afternoon.

With the win the Pilgrims even their overall record at 1-1, while the loss is the first of the season for the Cougars who are now 0-1.

Clark opened the scoring 11:45 into the game as Maria Manning (Manchester, N.H.) converted on a Cougar penalty stroke for her first collegiate goal. Manning had an opportunity to extend the Clark lead to two goals in the 23rd minute with her second penalty stroke of the game but NEC keeper Courtney Duquette (Enfield, N.H.) came up with a huge stick save preserving the one goal deficit.

The Pilgrims notched the game at 1-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half as Kristen O'Connell (Melrose, Mass.) scored NEC's first goal of the season on an assist by Patricia Wright (Essex, Mass.). 

The two teams would battle through the second half scoreless as NEC's Duquette would come up huge late in regulation turning away two Cougar penalty strokes in the final five minutes of play.

NEC escaped a couple early overtime scoring opportunities from Clark before Kent came through for the Pilgrims putting in a shot from O'Connell that deflected off a Cougar defender.

Duquette picked up the win in net for the Pilgrims finishing the game with an impressive 20 saves.

Clark finished the game with the 25-2 advantage in shots and the 13-7 advantage in corners.

The Cougars will return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 7 when they host non-conference opponent Becker at 1:00 p.m.