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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth defeated visiting Elmira 4-3 in overtime in Wednesday's Empire 8 field hockey contest. Sophomore Maggie Namy scored the game-winning goal with 5:45 left in the first overtime session. Junior Catherine Willard scored the Golden Flyers' three other goals. With their goals, Namy has three on the season, and Willard has a team-high nine.

Following the victory, Nazareth improves to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in conference games. With the loss, the Soaring Eagles drop to 1-7 overall and 0-3 in Empire 8 contests.

On the game-winning goal, Willard sent a pass through the slot toward the left side of the goal to Namy. Namy's shot beat Elmira's goalie Julie Hockenberger to end the game with just under six minutes to play in the first overtime session. Each team had multiple scoring chances in the extra stanza before Namy's goal. Elmira's offense had several chances in transition, but the Golden Flyers' defenders forced turnovers or slowed the Elmira attack. The Golden Flyers had a few chances in front of the Soaring Eagles' goal, but they were unable to connect on passes in front of the goal.

Willard scored Nazareth's first three goals. Willard's first gave the Golden Flyers a 1-0 lead 19:27 into the game after she collected the rebound from a shot by junior Maggie Muzio. Muzio used a transition opportunity to take the initial shot, and she was credited with an assist on the goal. Elmira answered with a pair of goals before the end of the first half to claim a one-goal lead at the break. The first goal, by Alison Mariano, followed a scrum in front of the Nazareth goal. Mariano received a pass across the goal mouth from Alli Gilbert. Sarah McCaffrey found the back of the Nazareth goal with one second to play in the period to give Elmira its lone lead of the game. The Soaring Eagles' Atupele Machika's first shot hit the post, and McCaffrey knocked the rebound past the Golden Flyers' goalie, Shannon Winney.

Willard's second goal, only minutes into the second half, followed a penalty corner opportunity. Sophomore Kailee Coleman played the ball into Muzio, and Muzio slid a pass to Willard who buried a shot into Elmira's goal. With about 22 minutes to play in regulation, Willard reclaimed the Golden Flyers' lead. In transition, senior Sibongile Chisi passed the ball to Willard. Willard took a couple of steps before putting a shot past Hockenberger.

Nazareth's 3-2 lead was short lived, however, as Elmira took advantage of a penalty corner less than three minutes later. Alli Gilbert took the initial shot, and Katie Carroll scored on the rebound.

The Golden Flyers outshot Elmira 25-12 over the course of the game and finished with a 9-7 advantage in penalty corner chances. Winney recorded six saves for Nazareth to earn the victory, and Hockenberger had 12 saves in the loss.

The Golden Flyers return to action September 27th with an Empire 8 game at Ithaca at 1 p.m. Nazareth returns to host Cortland in a non-conference contest on September 30th.