ROCHESTER, NY – Freshman Avery Tanton scored an overtime penalty shot to lift the Nazareth Field Hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Washington & Jefferson in its first Empire 8 game of the season Saturday on the Artificial Turf Field.

Washington & Jefferson (2-4 overall, 2-1 E8) scored first midway through the first quarter and held a 1-0 lead through the first three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, senior Grace Wasileski knocked in a rebound after the shot by sophomore Bella Rehermann was saved by the W&J goalie for the first Nazareth (1-5, 1-0 E8). The goal knotted the game at 1-1.

The game remained tied and headed to the overtime period.

Nazareth made the first rush down the field and sophomore Hannah Janes was battling for control of the ball with the W&J goalie on the ground. The referee awarded the penalty shot after the goalie trapped the ball.

Tanton lined up the shot and fired a ball to the right and out of the reach of the goalie for the game-winning goal.

Freshman goalie Mackenzie Halliday made four saves to earn her first career victory.

Nazareth returns to non-conference play Wednesday with a home game against Geneseo at 5 p.m. on the Artificial Turf Field.