ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Field Hockey needed late heroics to rally for a 3-2 overtime win over the visiting Hood College Blazers MAC Commonwealth match. Kara Frantz scored on a penalty corner in the fourth minute of extra time to lift the Eagles to a rainy homecoming win. 

The visiting Blazers (9-5, 0-3) controlled much of the play through the opening half, but the Eastern defense stood strong and the Eagles converted on their only penalty corner of the first half. With less than two minutes to go, Abby Hakes fed Frantz on the corner and then worked her way toward the near post. Frantz drove a ball toward goal that eventually found its way back to Hakes. She flipped the ball into the center of the scoring area and Emma Kircher put a solid stick on the ball for a strong finish and a 1-0 lead. 

Hood had a 5-1 edge in first-half penalty corners and an 8-3 edge in shots. Abby Agapito made eight of her 12 saves in the opening 30 minutes. 

Though it lasted through halftime, the Eastern lead turned out to be short-lived. The Blazers converted on a pair of penalty corners three and a half minutes apart to grab a 2-1 lead with 22 minutes left in regulation. 

The Eagles had two chances to equalize on corners with time expired in the third, but the final touch could not be found and the Eagles trailed. The game-tying goal arrived on a transition play early in the fourth quarter. Emerson Shauger found space in the midfield and knocked a ball into space between the Hood back line and goalkeeper. Ellie Pruitt won the race to the ball, touched it around the keeper, and tapped it home to tie the game. Pruitt created two more chances down the stretch, but Hood goalie Richana Brown made solid stops on both. JoEl Groff was in the right spot for a rebound on the second save, but her shot drifted just wide and the teams headed to overtime for the second time in three years.

Hood had the first penalty corner of overtime, but Agapito made a nice save, and the Eastern defense stood its ground. Moments later, Grace Wise made a steal and played a ball in deep to switch field position. The Eagles earned one corner, and then immediately had the opportunity for another after Frantz found a foot. After a good insert from Jenna Reider, Frantz hit a shot through traffic from the top of the circle, and the Eagles celebrated as the ball skipped inside the left upright. 

"I am proud of the way we executed," Head Coach Abbey Kemble said after the game. "We were down some key players today we stepped up."

The Eagles (6-7, 1-2) will host York on Wednesday at 3:30.