Salem State Earns 4-3 Win vs. Rivier in Overtime Thriller

THE BASICS 
Salem State, 4 vs. Rivier, 3 (OT)

Records: 
Rivier University Crusaiders (0-2)
Salem State University Vikings (1-1)

Location: Salem, Mass. - Alumni Field

Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025

THE LEAD— In a tightly contested matchup for most of Tuesday afternoon, it was the Salem State University Field Hockey team that came away with a 4-3 victory over River University thanks to an overtime goal from Zoey Radford (Middleborough, Mass.).   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rivier got the scoring started when Kelsey Bain found the back of the net less than two minutes into the contest (1:37). However, Salem responded right away (1:55) courtesy of a Mikayla Talbot (Scarborough, Maine) goal after Aleena Frith (Pepperell, Mass.) found the open sophomore. 
• After the early goals from Salem and Rivier, both sides held strong defensively the rest of the way as Izzy Mosley (Middleborough, Mass.) made a couple of crucial saves to end the quarter. 
• The Crusaiders recaptured the lead five minutes into the second (20:13) when Brianna Spinelli beat Mosley in front of the net. Similar to the first, the Vikings answered yet again thanks to Talbot's second goal on the day behind a great setup by Lindsey Tammaro (Saugus, Mass.).
• Mosley stepped up again before the end of the half when she made another big-time stop after Rivier had a penalty corner at the 27:42 mark. Thanks to the save, the squads headed into the half tied at two. 
• With both sides going scoreless in the third, Salem grabbed its first lead of the day in the fourth after Frith potted a goal courtesy of a Hannah Cochran (Marshfield, Mass.) assist. Despite the go-ahead goal, Rivier responded with a goal of its own off the stick of Spinelli, and after back-and-forth play the rest of the way, both sides headed into overtime.
• In the overtime period, Salem netted the game-winner after Radford put home a nice setup thanks to Sarah Gionfriddo (Pepperell, Mass.). 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Talbot's two goals were the first two of the season for her.
• Tammaro's assist marked the first of her career. 
• Radford's goal was not only the first of her career, but also her first game-winner.
• Tuesday's matchup marked the second-ever between the two, and now Salem is 1-1 against Rivier.

UP NEXT

• Salem heads out for a quick road matchup at Johnson & Wales on Saturday, September 6, at 5:00 p.m.