RICHMOND, Va. – For two-thirds of the game, there was no scoring. Then the floodgates opened. Massachusetts scored three times – twice in the fourth quarter and an overtime game winner to rally past No. 3 VCU, 3-2, Thursday in the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey semifinals at Cary Street Field.
 
Dempsey Campbell and Mali Herberhold combined to lift second-seeded Minutewomen (13-6) into the A-10 Championship final to face top-seeded Saint Joseph’s Saturday at noon.
 
Herberhold had the heroic game-winner in the first golden goal overtime period, scoring unassisted at 62:45 to secure the win. But her efforts wouldn’t have been possible without a little late-game magic from Campbell.
 
Down two with 12 minutes to play, Campbell scored twice in just over two minutes to negate the VCU advantage. Her first tally came on an assist from Herberhold and the second, her ninth goal of the season, was unassisted.
 
The game was scoreless for the first 40 minutes, but VCU (13-6) scored twice to take a 2-0 lead before the UMass rally. Maggie Goodwin’s opening goal, off a pass from Mora Marrero, generated a 1-0 lead at 40:12.  The Rams got what appeared to be an insurance goal six minutes later when Skyler Padgett tallied VCU’s second goal.
 
Myrte van Herwijnen also did her part, holding off an aggressive VCU defense that fired 19 total shots, 12 on goal. The UMass keeper stopped 10 of those. The goalie battle pitted two of the best from the A-10 this season as Rams roadblock Sheridan Messier made four saves herself and faced 10 shots from the Minutewomen, seven of which were on frame. VCU led in penalty corners 10-3.