HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team was outlasted in an overtime thriller against No. 20 Ursinus, falling 2-1 to the visiting Bears in the extra frame at Swan Field. Haverford equalized the contest with a penalty stroke goal from Casey Wakai in the 62nd minute, but Ursinus prevailed 21 seconds into overtime to take a road win by the slimmest of margins. The Fords held an 11-4 advantage in shots on the evening. The Fords fall to 4-5 (0-4 CC) while Ursinus escaped to a 7-3 record (5-0 CC).
The Bears got on the scoresheet first, converting on their first shot attempt of the contest. After Ursinus earned a penalty corner in the fourth minute, Mikayla Jordan found Devon Carroll in front of the goal for a one-timer that bolted into the cage for the 1-0 advantage.
The offenses would go stagnant for a long stretch from there, with sophomore goalkeeper Sunny Truslow making her lone save of the contest in the 23rd minute, rejecting an Erin Saybolt shot attempt. Ursinus held a slight two to one edge in shots in the 35 minutes of action as the game was played largely between the attacking thirds.
The second half was a different story as the Fords offense kicked it into high gear with a flurry of shots in the final twenty minutes. Kelsey Chai had a strong shot attempt in front of the goalmouth denied by a save from Ursinus goalkeeper Jules Singer, but Haverford kept the pressure on Ursinus with a pair of corners in the aftermath. On one of the corner plays, Ursinus was whistled for a foot preventing the ball from entering the cage, allowing Casey Wakai to attempt a penalty stroke in the 62nd. Wakai buried the attempt for her second goal of the season, tying the score at 1-1.
Haverford continued its offensive onslaught with shots from Roxy Vassighi and Paige Powell in the final five minutes of action before Chai rocketed a final minute attempt that Singer made a strong kick save on to preserve the tie. A last-ditch penalty corner attempt saw a pair of Vassighi shots blocked as the two teams headed to a 7v7 overtime period deadlocked at 1-1.
In the extra period, Ursinus converted on its first shot attempt as Jamie Mayer was able to get into the circle immediately following the opening whistle. Mayer was able to draw the Haverford defense off guard, dribbling through heavy traffic, and putting the ball past a charging Truslow, sealing the victory for the visitors.
The contest was the first in the all-time series between the two sides to go to overtime.
The Fords dominated the offensive rhythm of the game with a 10-to-1 shot advantage in the final period and a four to two corner advantage in the final 35 minutes. Powell had four shots to lead all players in the contest, putting two on frave. Chai had perhaps the strongest scoring chances of the night for the hosts, forcing Singer out of her range for fantastic saves on two occasions as the game reached its apex.
Haverford returns to action on Saturday, facing Gettysburg at noon. The last three games in the series between the Fords and Bullets has been decided by just one goal.