GAMBIER, Ohio – Winners of their last five field hockey games, the Kenyon College Ladies saw their streak come to halt Tuesday evening at McBride Field, as the visiting Denison University Big Red scored the game-winner in overtime to hand Kenyon a 2-1 loss.

With 4:06 left in the first overtime period, Denison senior Kirsten Audette drove the right side of the Ladies' zone. She went around one defender and created a one-on-one with Kenyon goalkeeper Sarah Speroff. Speroff moved to her left to challenge Audette, but as she moved, Audette fired the decider right between Speroff's pads and into the cage.

The goal capped a wild overtime period, one that did not at all reflect the defensive struggle that took place during regulation. The Big Red broke out of the extra session with three straight shots on Kenyon goal, but Speroff was in position to make the saves. Kenyon then responded with two penalty corners and four shots, but all four were blocked before getting near the Denison goal line. About one minute after the last of those Kenyon shots, Denison scored to end the game.

The first half of play was a stalemate in which the teams combined for just a three scoring threats. Denison's Charlotte Godfrey tallied both the Big Red's first-half shots and both were steered aside by Speroff, who finished the game with five saves. Kenyon's lone chance in the first half came off a penalty corner that found its way to senior Katelyn Hutchinson. She fired a bullet from the top of the circle, but it zipped wide right.

It wasn't until the game's 57th minute that the first goal was scored. Godfrey was in the mix again for Denison. She wound up for a shot from the right side. With her aim at the left post, the ball headed that way, only to be deflected across the goal line by teammate Charlotte Happel.

About ten minutes after that goal, Kenyon notched the equalizer. Freshman Paulina Mendez came up with a big steal at midfield and fed Hutchinson, who got free on a breakaway. As Hutchinson neared the goal, Denison keeper Kerry Lawler moved forward to cut down the angle. Hutchinson shot and Lawler made the save, but the ball rolled back to Hutchinson, who collected it and placed it in the back of the cage for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.

The Denison win inched the Big Red a bit closer to first-place Kenyon. Denison is now 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. The loss dropped Kenyon to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play.