Newport News, Va. -- And then there were eight.Â
University of Lynchburg field hockey freshman midfielder Khanyisile Mzizi nailed the only goal of the day in the second overtime period. She lifted the Hornets over No. 9 York for the second time this season Saturday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Mzizi's goal in the 72nd minute came off of an assist from classmate Allie Freeman by way of a penalty corner taken by the 11th-ranked Hornets to prevail in the team's fourth overtime contest of the season. It was her third game-winning score and her second in overtime having nailed the game-ender to defeat No. 24 Swarthmore on October 15.
It was also the 100th goal of the season for Lynchburg marking just the third time that the program has accomplished that feat in a season.
After coming away with the win in a gritty 2-0 decision over the Spartans on Sept. 23, Lynchburg was again tested by the York defense. One of the best units in Division III, the Spartans entered the contest holding their opponents to just 0.57 goals per game on average.
Through 60 minutes, the two squads had combined to take just 17 shots, with York holding Lynchburg 10 shots below its season average, taking just 14 in regulation.
The Hornets put just four of their shots on frame (28.6%) with all being saved by Spartans goalkeeper Belle Fields. Fields made five saves on six shots faced on the day for an .833 save percentage.
On the other side, Lynchburg goalkeeper Kayla Brady was tested only once through the first four periods, stopping the only shot that made its way to her.
The offenses picked up steam once overtime began, combining for three shots in the first of two extra frames with York putting the majority of the pressure on by forcing Brady to make a pair of saves.
However, the senior goalkeeper would not be tested again in securing her 17th career shutout as Lynchburg took all three shots in the second overtime period, with the third making its way into the back of the cage off the stick of Mzizi.
Lynchburg forced its 12th shutout of the season as a team and improved to 8-1 in one-score games this season.
With its 21st win of the season, Lynchburg is now just one victory away from tying the program record of 22, set in the 1981 season which saw the Hornets reach the AIAW National Championship game.
The win also powered Lynchburg to its sixth NCAA quarterfinal appearance in program history and its second since 2019.Â
It sets up a second consecutive rematch, this time with No. 14 Kean who defeated the Hornets 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 14. Since that game, Lynchburg has won nine-straight including two NCAA tournament games and an ODAC championship.
Kean advanced into the NCAA tournament as an at-large selection knocking off St. Mary's 4-2 in the opening round before serving an upset to host school and sixth-ranked Christopher Newport 1-0 earlier Saturday afternoon.
Lynchburg (21-2, 9-0 ODAC) will take on Kean (13-5, 3-2 NJAC) Sunday, November 12 at 3 p.m. in Newport News with the program's first trip to the NCAA semifinals on the line.
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