ST. DAVIDS, Pa.–
Abigail Geisler scored 75 seconds into overtime to lift Eastern University Field Hockey to a 3-2 come-from-behind home win over Delaware Valley.
How It Happened:
The visiting Aggies scored twice int he second period and held that lead until the start of the fourth quarter. After starting the fourth down a player, the Eagles began to get inside the Aggie defense and earn opportunities.
On the first penalty corner of the fourth, the Eagles rescued a misplayed entry and
Joelle Wash was able to circle back into the circle. The junior midfielder ripped home her eighth of the season on a shot from the top of the circle with nine and a half minutes to play. The Eagles had eight penalty corners and Wash wound up with eight shots in the final quarter.
The Eagles found the tie after a series of four corners. Wash pounded shots on each of them, and on each, an Aggie foot or shin made a stop. On the final blast, that foot belonged to a player standing on the goal line.
Ali Balmer buried her penalty stroke in the upper corner to tie the match with 6:51 to play.
The Eagles (6-11, 3-4) continued to pressure and Wash drew another penalty stroke call with yet another blast from the top. Aggie goalie Kita Konerth got her stick to Balmer's stroke to keep the game level.
Both teams had a pair of corners late in regulation.
Caitlyn Quizon made a big save for the Eagles and
Moriah Greene pulled the ball from danger. The Aggie defense blocked a Wash shot on Eastern's final effort of regulation.
The overtime opened up from the beginning. Balmer had a chance from a tight angle in the opening minute, but Konerth charged off her line and stopped her effort. Almost exactly a minute later, Balmer again found space on the left wing. The senior captain drew the goalie out and slid a pass into the scoring area in front. Geisler was in the perfect spot to pound home her 14th of the year.
Coach Azzarano Says:
"Today's game was a good picture of this team's perseverance. We continue to struggle with certain aspects of our play and subsequently were in a two goal hole at halftime. These girls have never given up and did not today. They found the passing game we needed to start to control the play in the second half and earned many quality opportunities in the circle."
Up Next:
The Eagles await other results this evening to see the final field in the MAC Freedom Tournament. The Eagles could advance in the result of a four-way tie for fourth with Misericordia, Wilkes, and King's, but would not advance out of a five-way tie for third. They will wrap up the regular season at Arcadia on Saturday.
