CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Two first quarter goals proved to be the difference as the No. 16 Ursinus College Field Hockey could not overcome the deficit falling 2-0 to Washington College on Saturday afternoon.
 

With the loss the Bears fell to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in Centennial Conference action. Meanwhile, the Shorewomen improved to 7-4 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.

 
Each defense stood tall throughout the first eight minutes of the contest as neither team could find a shot on goal, until Washington College was awarded a penalty corner at the 9:12-mark. The Shorewomen fired back-to-back shots, but the Bears defense blocked the first opportunity and the second missed wide to keep the contest scoreless. Washington College jumped on the board first at the 10:43-mark, at the top of the circle Zoe Shevitz sent a shot on goal that snuck past the Bears defense and found the back of the net. Ursinus quickly responded with back-to-back penalty corners, but a shot from sophomore Lauren Sieczkowski missed wide of the cage to keep the deficit at one. Washington College extended their lead to two at the 13:35-mark of the first period as Samantha McMahon tipped a pass into the cage for a goal. A pass from the edge of the circle deflected off a Bears defender and passed the Bears netminder before finding McMahon's stick for the open net goal. During the 17^th minute of the second period, senior Ellie Bruggeman nearly snuck her shot past the Shorewomen defense, but a diving save from the Shorewomen kept the Bears deficit at two heading into halftime.

 
The Bears offense came alive in the second half recording the first four shots of the period behind three penalty corner opportunities. Bruggeman and sophomore Rachel Buono had their first two scoring chances denied by the Shorewomen defense. At the 36:20-mark, junior Amanda Groeling's shot was blocked while first-year Marie Brainard's shot was saved by Washington College's Charlotte Schurman in goal. Junior Mary Lauren Franz fired two shots in the final stanza, with the first being saved and her second shot just missing wide of the net. With under a minute remaining, the Bears recorded their final shot as Bruggeman missed wide resulting in the 2-0 defeat to Washington College.
 
 
Washington College held a 11-9 edge in shots while each team finished with four shots on goal. Washington College's Charlotte Schurman earned the victory in goal behind four saves, while sophomore netminder Adriana Palladinetti recorded two saves over 60 minutes of action. The Bears fired seven of their nine shots in the second half, while holding the Shorewomen offense to just six total shots in the final two periods.

 
The Bears return to action on Wednesday, October 11^th as they host Franklin & Marshall for a 7 p.m. start from Snell Field.