COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Behind an all-around effort, the 17th-ranked Ursinus College field hockey team earned a decisive 5-2 victory over Washington College on Saturday afternoon from Snell Alumnae Field.
 

With the victory, Ursinus improves to 7-4 on the season and 3-2 in Centennial Conference play, while the Shorewomen fall to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in conference action. 

 
Ursinus quickly struck first in the opening period as junior Gigi Testa connected on a scoring opportunity to give Ursinus a 1-0 lead with 10:49 remaining in the first stanza. Just two minutes later, Washington College responded with a goal of their own to even the score at one apiece with 9:29 remaining in the quarter. The Shorewomen added a pair of penalty corner opportunities over the remainder of the period but came away empty as the teams entered the second quarter tied at one. Each team traded penalty corner chances to open the second period, before the Bears extended their lead to 2-1 at the 22:27-mark. On a corner chance, junior Lauren Sieczkowski received the inserting pass from sophomore Kirsten Johnson. Sieczkowski sent a low shot towards the goal that was tipped by senior Amanda Groeling and went over the head of the Shorewomen netminder for the goal. The assist marks Sieczkowski's third of the season, while Groeling added her second score of the year. During the 24th minute, Ursinus tallied back-to-back shots as Johnson's attempt was saved and junior Rachel Buono's shot was blocked by the Shorewomen defense. Washington College answered with a pair of shots in the closing moments of the half, but each chance was denied by the Bears defense and entered halftime with a 2-1 lead.
 

 
Ursinus continued the offensive pressure early in the second half earning consecutive corner chances, before capitalizing on penalty stroke to extend their lead to 3-1. After two defenders collided with senior Mary Lauren Franz within the circle, junior Lauren Breisch stepped up for Ursinus and delivered a line drive shot towards the right post for the score. In the 38th minute, Washington College tallied back-to-back corners and consecutive shots, but each chance was denied keeping Ursinus ahead by two. With under a minute remaining in the period, Ursinus recorded the knockout score as senior Eliza Donaldson netted a goal for her second score of the season. A pass was sent into the circle, tipped by Franz, and found Donaldson on the back post for the goal. In the final stanza, Washington College's Kat Esposito collected a goal to cut the Bears lead to two with 9:11 remaining in the contest. The Bears quickly responded with a goal by Franz, her 12th of the season, and closed the doors on a comeback chance from the Shorewomen enroute to a 5-2 victory.  
 

Ursinus held an 18-15 lead in shots, a 13-7 advantage in shots on goal, while Washington College earned a 10-6 advantage in penalty corner opportunities. Junior netminder Adriana Palladinetti earned the victory in goal behind five saves, while Washington's Charlotte Schurman suffered the loss collecting a game-high eight saves.
 

The Bears return to action on Wednesday, October 16th as they travel to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a Centennial Conference matchup against Franklin & Marshall College at 7 p.m.