SOUTH PARIS — Based on previous results on the young season, Oxford Hills may have felt like it was at a disadvantage heading to overtime against Edward Little in Thursday’s night’s KVAC field hockey tilt.

But then, the Vikings were happy just to be playing overtime in the first place.

Hannah Warren’s goal with 1:22 left in regulation tied the game, then Jessica Gauthier scored the game-winner in overtime to complete the Vikings’ 2-1 comeback win over the Red Eddies.

“We’ve only had one overtime practice with another team and we didn’t
look so spectacular. But we looked really good today in that overtime,”
Oxford Hills coach Cindy Goddard said. “I thought we cut well and made some passes.”

Gauthier redirected a shot from Warren to the right of goalie Kayla Cummings 2:40 into the extra session to set off a Viking celebration that was briefly interrupted.

“I was just standing in position. It deflected off my stick and went in,” Gauthier said.

One official initially ruled the score no goal, but reversed the decision after a brief consultation with the other official. EL coach Greg Perkins protested, but to no avail.

“She said someone touched it in there,” Perkins said.”That’s what they told me. I didn’t see anyone in there touch it.”

Oxford Hills (2-0) outshot Edward Little, 8-7, but looked stagnant on offense for much of the first half. Katie Williamson gave the Eddies a 1-0 lead 9:12 into the first half with a goal past Vikings’ goalie Mariah Kimball.

“I think the first half EL had some great opportunities,” Goddard said.
“The second half we kind of came alive. We don’t have many subs. Those
kids that were in there really worked hard. I think maybe with the
cooler temperatures they just got a better flow and maybe played with a
little more heart. They knew they had to dig in and we’ve got some
senior leadership that can get everybody going.”

Warren finally tied it off a penalty corner.

“We were all nerved up and there was one minute to go and we had to score,” Warren said. 

Edward Little (1-2) quickly regained the momentum, though, and had two penalty corners in the final minute of regulation, but couldn’t take advantage.

“They outhustled us in the second half. They outhustled us in the overtime,” Perkins said. “That was the game right there.”

Auburn’s Maddie Williamson rushes to get in front of Oxford Hills’ Marissa Hanning during the second half of their game in Paris. The Vikings won 2-1 in overtime.

Ebony Mills, right, and Miranda Martin fight over the ball during the second half of their game in Paris Thursday.

Christine Bilodeau, left, stretches out in front of Oxford Hills’ Hannah Warren in an attempt to stop her forward progress in the second half of their game Thursday.

Auburn’s Zoe Theriault attempts to gain control of the ball from Hannah Warren in the second half of their game.