Overtime goal by Daileanes sends Londonderry field hockey to win over Keene (video)

LONDONDERRY - Meghan Daileanes just wanted to play another game with the Londonderry High School field hockey team this season.

After seeing a handful of scoring chances come up short throughout the second half and overtime Wednesday, the junior had one more opportunity to start the second extra period.

Tara Wright tried to send the ball into the circle, and despite hitting off a Keene defender's stick, Daileanes was able to get to it just before goalie Bella Venezia. The two collided, but Daileanes was able to keep her balance long enough to keep the ball moving forward.

As she stumbled toward the goal, Daileanes watched as it rolled across the line and into the cage for the game-winning goal, giving No. 8 Londonderry a 2-1 double-overtime victory over No. 9 Keene in the Division I preliminary round. The Lancers move on to the quarterfinals, where they will face top-seeded Exeter on Saturday.

"Tara had the ball and I was there for the through pass almost," Daileanes said. "I was going in to shoot it and I just dove for it. It went right in.

"I was really just pushing to get to that next round. We worked so hard this season and we did not want it to end (Wednesday). It’s amazing. I think that was our goal was to be able to get another opportunity to play and keep it going. They were an amazing team."

The goal came just 27 seconds into the second overtime after the Lancers - and more specifically Daileanes - had a number of opportunities to take the lead before that, including a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter that Venezia was able to stop.

"For Meg to be the one to finish in the end, she had a few shots that unfortunately didn’t go, so for her to be the one to finish kind of seals the deal," Londonderry coach Nichole Treadway said. "You have all those opportunities and that’s sometimes how field hockey is. Both teams just played with a ton of heart."

Rease St. Gelais also had a goal for the Lancers (9-7-2) and Katie Doherty had an assist while Kathryn Martin made five saves.

Venezia finished with nine saves for Keene (6-10-1), including three in the fourth quarter that kept the game tied, and Alex Contaldi scored with 9:26 left in the second quarter to give the Blackbirds a 1-0 lead. The sophomore was able to collect a rebound on a save by Martin and get enough on a shot to get it through for the goal.

Londonderry was able to tie it up on the goal by St. Gelais with 3:03 left in the first half. While that gave the Lancers some confidence going into the third quarter, it didn't stop Keene from taking control of the game.

"Sometimes it adds an extra bit when you’re down, it makes you fight a bit harder, but I definitely think that we needed that momentum," Treadway said. "We’ve had a hard time this season after we get scored on.

"(But) we let down in the third quarter and I was getting a little nervous. We weren’t really talking on defense, it was really quiet."

The Blackbirds were able to keep the ball in the Lancers' end for most of the quarter and had three of their nine penalty corners. On the last one, Londonderry was finally able to flip the field, getting a breakaway opportunity, but Venezia came up with the save.

The Lancers had three more fastbreak chances in regulation, including one that led to the stroke, but Venezia stopped the shot by Daileanes with 5:07 left in the fourth quarter.

Londonderry kept the ball in Keene's end for most of the first overtime, getting a corner and two other scoring chances that couldn't come together.

Finally, in the second overtime, it worked out.

"I think we do get frustrated, but we turn that frustration into intensity," Daileanes said. "I definitely missed a couple down there, but instead of getting in my head, it fueled me."