YORK, Pa. –  The Widener University field hockey team made school history on Wednesday night as it secured the program's first ever conference tournament victory.
 
First year Jess Alba scored three minutes into the overtime period to give the team a 1-0 decision over York College of Pennsylvania in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals. After coming up short in the opening round of the 2017 and 2019 conference tournaments, the Pride will make its inaugural appearance in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game on Saturday.
 
"Although every win is treasured, this is a monumental one for the Widener University Field Hockey program", said head coach Melissa McCarthy, who picked up her first postseason win at the helm. "The team has had an 'all-in' mentality from day one and has trusted in each other, the staff, and our mission entirely. Going to the conference championships for the first time in Widener history is an amazing feeling. We will savor this overnight and get back to work tomorrow evening! Go Pride!"
 
Against the Spartans, goalkeeper Kylie Haberstroh and the Widener defense continued their stellar 2021 campaign as they shut out their ninth opponent this season. Haberstroh came up with seven key saves in the match and remains the only goalie in the conference with a goals against average less than .900 (.877) and a save percentage above .750 (.784). Her nine clean sheets and 14 total wins in a single season rank second all-time for Widener.
 
Adding another layer to the historic victory, the win also marked the first ever against York who joined the MAC Commonwealth in 2020. The two schools met earlier this year on September 18, but a Spartans goal in the 57th minute allowed them to sneak away with a 2-1 decision and deal WU its first conference setback of the season. Haberstroh recorded a career-high 11 saves in the match.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pride controlled the majority of the possession in the first period and recorded the contest's first two shots on a penalty corner - one from Bryn Marcavage and a rebound attempt from Madi Radnoff. York got a few opportunities towards the end of the frame, but Haberstroh stonewalled its cleanest look on a one-on-one matchup with 45 seconds remaining.
• The Spartans took that late spark into the second, forcing another outstanding save by Haberstroh early in the period. Jesse Schlosser had the Blue and Gold's best attempt on cage at the 4:47 mark, but had it stolen by York goalkeeper Kaitlyn Wallace on a stick save to send both teams into halftime locked at zero.
• Perhaps Haberstroh and the defense's most critical stand came in the third period when the Pride was out shot 5-0. York was awarded two corners in the final few minutes and Haberstroh fended off two consecutive shots on the second one to keep the match scoreless entering the final frame.
• Gianna Perna had the Blue and Gold's last attempt in regulation as WU was edged 2-1 in fourth quarter shots. Arguably the most important defensive play of the game came from first year Maddie Hoyer with less than a minute remaining when she intercepted a cross that would have given the Spartans a prime scoring opportunity. However, that would be the last opportunity from either side in regulation as the clock winded down to force extra periods.
• Three minutes into the first OT period, the MAC Commonwealth's points leader, Madi Radnoff, took the ball up the right side of the field and sent a pass to a wide open Alba who buried it home, ending the match in the 63rd minute.

 
UP NEXT
Widener hits the road again when it battles the top seeded Messiah Falcons in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game this Saturday, November 6. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.