WILKES-BARRE, Pa.—Eastern University Field Hockey needed seven extra minutes to decide Friday night's Freedom Conference opener with the King's College Monarchs, winning the game in overtime 2-1.

Eastern freshman Gina Miller scored the sudden victory goal in the 78th minute Friday night, redirecting a slap shot by Megan Bolton on a penalty corner. The Eagles first goal of the game, scored 71 minutes earlier, also came on a penalty corner with senior Alexa Borrelli finishing a hit by Bolton. 

Despite playing on the road during an opponent's homecoming weekend in what Eagles' head coach Camrin Azzarano called one of the loudest, craziest game environments she's ever been in, the Eagles struck first. Miller inserted a penalty corner six minutes into the game, finding Bolton. Bolton connected with Borrelli near the cage for Borrelli's team-high fourth goal this season. Azzarano commended Borrelli for not just scoring but also for role in organizing the midfield. “Alexa played a key role today,” Azzarano said. “Our passing game was the best it's been all year.”

While the Eagles moved the ball up and down the field well, Azzarano noted that King's defense made it difficult for the Eagles to attack in the open field. The Eagles, however, were successful at earning penalty corners and out-cornered the Monarchs 13-5. 

The Monarchs tied the game midway through the second half when Megan Lermond recovered the loose ball off a bully in front of the cage and scored her fifth goal of the season.

Eastern gained one last corner as regulation expired, but nothing transpired of the attempt, and the contest resumed in 7-v-7 overtime.

The Eagles earned a corner in the 76th minute, but the play fell apart and King's counter-attacked with a fastbreak. King's had three players on the break to one Eastern defender but Eastern freshman Shannon Kelliher sprinted from the corner to play to track down the ball and commit a smart foul to stop the play. The foul allowed King's a corner, but Kelliher flew out of the cage on the resulting play and got her stick on the ball to stop King's corner attack. 

One minute later, the Eagles earned another corner play. Miller inserted to Lauren Gay at the top of the circle who dished it to Bolton who blasted a shot near post. Miller tipped the shot, sneaking it inside the far post for the game-winner. Miller has three goals this season.

With the win, Eastern moved back above .500 (5-4), claimed the first conference game of the year, and improved to 10-1 all-time against King's.

The Eagles host Elizabethtown College on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

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