COLLEGVILLE, Pa. – The No. 18 Ursinus field hockey team saw a second half comeback fall just short against No. 10 Lynchburg in a wild 5-4 contest on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.
 
 
 
Lynchburg opened the scoring early in the fifth minute after getting a set up off a Bears green card and quickly extended its advantage to 2-0 just two minutes later. The Hornets nearly added a third goal late in the first quarter, but senior defender Maeve Montgomery knocked away a shot attempt. The Bears converted a penalty corner less than two minutes into the second quarter when sophomore Marie Brainard knocked home a shot to make it 2-1. However, the Hornets controlled possession for much of the second quarter and created quality scoring chances to knock in two more goals and held a 4-1 lead at halftime.
 
 
The Hornets scored off a penalty corner just 41 seconds into the third quarter to go up 5-1, seemingly putting the game away early in the second half. However, the Bears began turning the momentum and junior Gigi Testa converted a penalty corner in the 35th minute that made it 5-2. Senior Mary Lauren Franz had a shot knocked away by a Hornets defender but rebounded to keep her four-game scoring streak alive with an acrobatic goal off a high tip in the 43rd minute to cut the deficit to 5-3. Junior Lauren Breisch kept the Bears run rolling into the fourth quarter with a goal in the 49th minute and made things interesting at 5-4. Lynchburg turned the pressure back on the Bears with four corners and three shot on goals in the next four minutes but could not convert. Junior Lauren Sieczkowski kept the Hornets from extending their lead in the 55th minute but continued chances set up a penalty stroke for Lynchburg with four minutes left in regulation. Junior goalkeeper Adriana Palladinetti stood to task and kept the Bears alive with a save on Saar Prins. Ursinus made a late charge and had two penalty corners in the final minute but were unable to get the game-tying goal.
 
 
Lynchburg held a slight 23-22 advantage in total shots and a 17-16 edge in shots on goal. The Hornets also held a slight 14-13 advantage in penalty corners as well. Palladinetti made 10 saves in the full 60 minutes while Hornets goalkeeper Shay Schoones posted 11 saves. Maddie Schuchter led Lynchburg with three goals and one assist.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Wednesday, September 18th as they will host Messiah at 7:00 p.m.