Girls Field Hockey: Cranston East Falls in an Overtime Heartbreaker

Cranston East was able to create pressure for the majority of the game, but could not find the net, and surrendered a goal in overtime, falling 1-0 to Chariho on Thursday.

The Thunderbolts started off the game with superb passing and brought  intensity to the game. But Chariho played an extra defender beside the goalie, making it difficult for the Thunderbolts to maneuver the ball through. The Chargers made four huge saves early, and kept themselves from falling behind. 

Beatrix Kanno and Nina Steiner dominated the first half of play for the Thunderbolts, but failed to notch a goal, due to sound defense and some miraculous saves from Kaitlyn Dolloff.

The first half ended nil-nil and you could see the frustration on Cranston East Coach Robert Finelli's face. Finelli's frustration was due to his team's inability to score at point blank range, knowing that usually those mistakes come back to cost a team.

Melody Francisco made one great save for Cranston East in the second half, on a slap shot by Michaela Carrier. But other than that, Cranston east continued to dictate play in the second half. Nina Steiner and Beatrix Kanno continued to crowd the net and put shots on goal, but to no avail. 

The game went into overtime with no score, and two minutes later the game was delayed due to lightning.

The game resumed in a virtual monsoon 30 minutes later, and Chariho advanced the ball into Thunderbolt territory. They worked the ball down low and Francesca Brown beat Melody Francisco for the first and only goal of the game. Nina Steiner was upset because she thought she was screened and a penalty should've been called, but the goal stood. The buzzer sounded and Chariho was victorious, 1-0. 

Thunderbolt Captain Nina Steiner spoke of the team's inability to score after the game.

"I think that it was a lot of miscommunication, and we just didn't produce. We have to be a team that produces constantly. We have to be a consistent team. And that's what we're really struggling with," Steiner commented.

Chariho squeaks out its second win of the season, and the Thunderbolts squander their opportunities and drop their fourth straight game, falling to 2-5 on the season.