CARLISLE, Pa. – A fourth-quarter goal proved to be the difference as the Ursinus field hockey team fell 2-1 to No. 12 Dickinson in the opening round of the Centennial Conference Tournament on Tuesday afternoon.


With the loss, Ursinus closed the 2025 season with a 9-9 overall record. The Red Devils improved to 17-2 and will travel to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a semifinal matchup against Franklin & Marshall.


The Bears nearly opened the scoring in the fifth minute when sophomore Katie Studzinski intercepted a pass from the Red Devils' back line just outside the circle. After the turnover, Studzinski dribbled around a defender before firing a shot on goal that was saved by Dickinson's goalkeeper. The Red Devils then capitalized on a penalty corner at the 8:37 mark to take a 1-0 lead. On the play, the Bears' defense blocked the initial Dickinson shot, but the Red Devils converted on the rebound to strike first. Just a minute later, Ursinus answered with a goal from junior Ava Mikulski to tie the contest at 1-all. On a corner chance, the Bears' initial shot was saved by Dickinson, but Mikulski corralled the rebound and sent a chip shot over the defense and into the back of the cage.


Both teams traded chances early in the second quarter until the Red Devils recorded four consecutive shots, all denied by senior goalkeeper Adriana Palladinetti and the Bears' defense. With under two minutes remaining in the first half, Dickinson was awarded a penalty stroke following a corner opportunity. Megan McClure took the attempt for the Red Devils, firing a shot toward the left post, but a diving save from Palladinetti kept the contest tied entering halftime.


Dickinson generated the first few chances to open the second half, totaling three corners and three shots, but was turned away by strong defense from Ursinus. The momentum then swung in the Bears' favor as they responded with four shots on goal to close out the period but were unable to find the go-ahead score. Junior Marie Brainard took the first chance for Ursinus with a backhanded shot that was stopped by the Red Devils' goalkeeper. The Bears earned a pair of penalty corners to close out the third, but seniors Rachel Buono and Lauren Sieczkowski both had their shots saved by the Dickinson defense.


Dickinson capitalized in the 47th minute to start the final period when a shot from outside the circle was redirected by Erin Liggio for the go-ahead goal. With under four minutes to play, Ursinus pulled its goalkeeper to add an extra offensive player. Dickinson earned a penalty corner during that stretch, but the Bears' back line stepped up to deny the chance and keep the deficit at one. However, Ursinus was unable to find the equalizer in the closing minutes and fell 2-1.


Dickinson outshot Ursinus 16-7, held an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal, and owned a 13-4 edge in penalty corners. In goal, Palladinetti took the loss despite a game-high seven saves, while Dickinson's Taylor Morrow earned the win with five saves.