ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.– Eastern University Field Hockey scored four times, but the Eagles were unable to hold a second-half lead and fell 5-4 in overtime.
Abigail Geisler scored twice in a wild first half.
How It Happened:
The Eagles (3-5) grabbed an early lead in the fourth minute. Geisler popped in her seventh of the year on a shot from close range. The Blue Jays (2-50 answered in the eighth minute and the first quarter ended with the teams tied at one.
Geisler opened the scoring in the wild second quarter with a shot off a rebound.
Joelle Wash hit the initial strike and Geisler dug the ball out for her eighth goal of her sophomore campaign. The Blue Jays, however, answered with goals in the 23rd and 28th minute to grab a 3-2 lead as the half drew to a close.
The Eagles had one more push and capitalized on a penalty corner in the the 29th minute. Geisler hit a shot that was turned away, but
Becky Howard was in the right spot to tie the contest.
The Eagles had a 13-7 edge in first-half shots and an 8-2 edge in penalty corners.
Eastern continued to control field position and possession for the third period, but the Blue Jays had a couple good chances on penalty corners. For all their pressure, Eastern only put a single shot on goal in the third.
The pressure finally paid dividends in the fourth.
Ali Balmer dribbled into the circle and drew a penalty corner just over in a minute into the final stanza of regulation. Balmer collected a rebound and scooped a shot into the underside of the cross bar for a 4-3 edge.
That lead did not last. The Blue Jays doubled their pressure and forced
Kylie Troyer to make a tough save int he 52nd minute. Elizabethtown earned a penalty corner. Troyer made another stop, but the second effort shot tied the game at four with eight and a half minutes to play. She finished with eight stops in the match.
Both teams had chances in the waning moments. After weaving through several defenders, Balmer had a chance on the goalie in the final minute, but her shot went off the pads and regulation ended.
With fewer players on the field, the game opened up in overtime. Early in the first extra frame, Balmer made a big surging run up the left side and tried to play a serve into the scoring area for a pair of teammates. The Elizabethtown defense jarred the ball free and the game went the other way. The Blue Jays took advantage of their transition chance to end the game.
Coach Azzarano Says:
"It was a very exciting game. We made some costly errors and they tok advantage of their opportunities. We continue to learn and we will be ready for Saturday."
Up Next:
The Eagles will host WIlkes University in the MAC Freedom opener for both teams. The Colonels won last year's match up 6-3.
