Garden City, N.Y. - For the second consecutive game, Jody Van Aardt delivered overtime heroics, as the Adelphi University field hockey team rallied past Southern New Hampshire University, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon.
Behind a two-goal performance from Lana Mignon De Wet and another overtime game-winner from Van Aardt, the Panthers secured their third consecutive victory.
Series History:
- With Saturday's victory, Adelphi (9-5, 4-1 NE10) improves to 9-3 all-time against Southern New Hampshire (6-7, 1-4 NE10), dating back to the first meeting between the two programs in 2014.
- The Panthers have now won back-to-back meetings against the Penmen, following a 2-0 shutout victory in Manchester, N.H., last season (Sept. 27, 2025).
- The Brown and Gold improve to 5-1 against Southern New Hampshire at Motamed Field, avenging a 3-2 overtime loss in their last home meeting (Sept. 28, 2024).
Highlights:
- De Wet led the Panthers offensively, scoring twice to bring her season total to 16 goals. She finished with a team-high six shots, including two on target. Her second goal of the afternoon moved her into a tie with Amanda Lee for the most career goals in Adelphi field hockey history, matching the program record Lee set just two seasons ago.
- Van Aardt delivered the game-winning goal just 3:40 into overtime, marking her second consecutive overtime winner and eighth goal of the season. The junior finished with five shots, including three on goal.
- Adelphi held a narrow 16-15 advantage in shots, while Southern New Hampshire owned a 9-8 edge in shots on goal.
- The Penmen earned 10 penalty corners compared to six for the Brown and Gold.
- Goalkeeper Tayla Szmak played all 63:40 in the cage, making seven saves to help secure the victory.
How it Happened:
- The Panthers came out aggressively in the opening quarter, generating six shots and earning three penalty corners while limiting Southern New Hampshire to just one shot. Despite several early opportunities, the Brown and Gold were unable to break through, sending the contest into the second quarter scoreless.
- Adelphi finally broke through just over three minutes into the second frame, as De Wet found the back of the cage at the 18:10 mark for her 15th goal of the season, giving the Panthers a 1-0 advantage.
- Southern New Hampshire responded with increased offensive pressure, outshooting Adelphi 6-3 in the second quarter while earning five penalty corners.
- With just one second remaining before halftime, SNHU evened the contest at 1-1, as a long-range shot was redirected by an attacker, slipping past Szmak to send the two sides into the break tied.
- The Penmen carried their momentum into the third quarter, generating five shots and four penalty corners while holding the Panthers without a shot. However, Szmak and the Adelphi defensive unit held strong, keeping the visitors off the scoreboard to maintain the stalemate entering the final period.
- Southern New Hampshire eventually broke through with 10:25 remaining in regulation, to take back the one-goal advantage.
- Facing a late deficit, the Brown and Gold answered. With just over six minutes remaining, De Wet delivered her second goal of the contest and 16th of the season at the 53:43 mark, bringing Adelphi back even at 2-2.
- Neither side could find the deciding goal in the closing minutes, sending the Panthers into overtime for the second consecutive game.
- Once again, Van Aardt rose to the occasion. Just 3:40 into the extra period, the junior found the back of the cage with a beautiful forehand strike on the run for her eighth goal of the season.
Up Next:
-
Head Coach Margaret Maclean and the Panthers will look to extend their three-game winning streak when they travel to Waltham, Mass., on Friday (Oct. 23) to face Bentley University.. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
