DURHAM, N.H. – A welcome return to the turf awaited Phoebe Crosthwaite Friday as she set up the game-winning goal in double OT after rehabbing a broken arm in pre-season, powering the No. 12 Cardinal to a 3-2 win over UNH and moving its win streak to six.
The Cardinal (6-2, 2-0 AE) came out strong again in the first half with nine shots, putting seven on target, but UNH's Kelsey Rudert remained stalwart in the half, turning away five of them. Stanford struck first in the fifth minute off a penalty corner as Sarah Johnson and Katie Keyser set up Corinne Zanolli's fourth goal of the year.
The Wildcats (3-5, 0-2 AE) were able to answer in the half as they only got two shots off, but the first rang true as UNH capitalized on its only penalty corner of the half with a deflection evening the score. The Cardinal would head into the half up 2-1 with Kristina Bassi going top-shelf in the 30th minute off a great pass from Kaylie Mings for the assist.
The second half saw pressure abound from the Wildcats, with penalty corners striking the Achilles heel of the Cardinal in the 44th minute as UNH struck again on a corner to knot it 2-2 and send it into overtime.
In the first overtime the Wildcats set the pace with three shots to Stanford's one, but only the Cardinal put one on frame as it rolled into the second OT.
The second overtime period needed only two minutes before Crothswaite, who returned to action this week after an injury sustained in pre-season, crossed a perfect ball to Zanolli, who finished for her fifth goal of the year to clinch the game.
The Cardinal will get a day off between games before it faces the Maine Black Bears in America East Conference action on Sunday at 9 a.m. PT in Durham, N.H.