Bedford field hockey moves on in D1 playoffs with OT win against Dover (video)

BEDFORD - Anneke McStowe believes her Bedford High School field hockey team plays a perfect game for overtime.

With only seven players a side on the field, the Bulldogs have plenty of space to run and show their passing ability, and so far this season, the coach has been right.

No. 2 Bedford scored with 1:34 remaining in overtime to beat No. 7 Dover 2-1 in Saturday's Division I quarterfinal, the Bulldogs' second win over the Green Wave in overtime in the last 10 days. The win is also a historic one for Bedford, as the program advances to the semifinals for the first time, where the Bulldogs will face No. 3 Windham at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter.

"We played our game," McStowe said. "Bedford is known for their strong passes and that’s what can win games, and that’s what you saw (Saturday). No one has beaten us in overtime, I think because of our strong passing, we’re able to dominate in the 7-vs-7 situation."

Regan O'Brien scored both goals for Bedford (16-1), getting the game-winner on a breakaway after she got behind the last Dover defender in overtime. O'Brien went in on goalie Hayley Tosh alone and the Dover sophomore came up with the save on the first shot.

With no one else back, O'Brien was able to get the rebound and managed to squeeze a shot through Tosh and the post on the near side.

"I didn’t think it was going in when I got that rebound," O'Brien said. "It went in, luckily."

Isabella McStowe assisted on the game-winner, as she took a pass from Sydney Grogan just short of midfield, carried it over and then dished it to O'Brien. Eliana Enners also had an assist on O'Brien's first goal, which tied the game with 3:28 left in the third quarter.

O'Brien had a chance to give the Bulldogs the lead in the final seconds of the third, as she went in on Tosh alone, but Tosh was able to make a lunging pad save to keep it a tied game.

"I needed to make up for the first stop I had," O'Brien said. "We do very well in 7-vs-7. We’ve been through them a few times. Our passing is amazing. The assist from Isabelle was an amazing run-on pass."

The save by Tosh to end the third quarter helped Dover (11-7) get fired up for the final frame.

"We had a little bit of a lull in the third quarter," Dover coach Sarah Michaud said. "I think Bedford won that one as a whole. That save really got the girls excited and got them that little bit extra effort that we needed.

"I felt they played great. We just were here last week, so it was tough to come back. At least we felt a little more optimistic that we could play with them. We knew we had to work our hardest in order to keep up with them."

After falling to the Bulldogs 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 13 in a game in which they never led, the Green Wave was able to go in front early in the second quarter. Dover received a penalty corner in the opening minutes and Audrey Carter put a show low on the ground that made it into the corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead with 11:25 remaining until halftime.

The Green Wave continued to put pressure on Bedford's defense and almost made it a two-goal lead with about six minutes to play in the half, but a shot hit off the side of the goal.

Down 1-0 at halftime, Bedford came out strong in the second half and was able to flip the field, keeping the ball on Dover's half.

"At halftime, we recognized that the first half of the game, we were very frantic," O'Brien said. "We weren’t passing like ourselves, we weren’t cutting in front of the ball. Everyone sort of had a little worry on their faces. No one wants to be in that situation. A few of the girls said a few words that picked us up and changed our motivation."

With the game tied in the fourth, neither team was able generate a great chance to score. Dover had the only corner and Bedford had the lone shot on goal, as Tosh made a save early in the quarter and the rebound was sent wide.

Bedford had the only corner of overtime, but Dover defended it well and quickly got the ball out of the circle. Just when it looked like the teams were destined for another OT, Gagnon started the Bulldogs' break and their first trip to the final four.

"We’re in uncharted waters for Bedford," McStowe said. "The girls were nervous before because I’m not sure they felt they deserved to do as well as they have all season. Now they know and they’re showing that."