COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Junior forward
Ava Wood scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to lift the 15th-ranked Ursinus field hockey team to a 1-0 victory over 10th-ranked Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday evening at Snell Field.
The victory marked the Bears' fifth overtime win of the season, including their third in double overtime. It also marked the Bears' second straight double-overtime victory over the Diplomats at home after earning a 3-2 decision in the Centennial Conference championship semifinals in 2024.
With the win, Ursinus improves to 10-4 overall and 4-3 in Centennial Conference play. Meanwhile, the Diplomats drop to 10-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play. Wood's goal marked her third of the season and the first game-winning goal of her career.
The Diplomats recorded the first three shots of the contest in the opening minutes, including a shot on goal, but first-year goalkeeper
Elise Martin and the Bears' defense denied the scoring opportunities. The Bears responded at the 7:48 mark with consecutive shots on goal by senior
Marie Brainard, but the first period ended in a scoreless tie.
Ursinus earned a penalty corner at the 18:16 mark, but sophomore
Kylie Moore's shot missed wide of the net. The Diplomats also recorded a shot wide of the cage with 10:18 remaining in the first half. After a green card was issued to a Diplomat, Ursinus nearly converted on a corner at the 25:39 mark, but a defensive save by Franklin & Marshall kept the game scoreless entering halftime.
The Franklin & Marshall offense put pressure on the Bears' defense during the first three minutes of the third quarter, recording four shots off two penalty corners, with Martin making two saves. Senior forward
Ava Mikulski fired the final shot of the period at the 32:50 mark before the final 12 minutes became a battle between the two defenses.
Martin and the Bears' defense stood tall early in the fourth quarter, denying a pair of scoring opportunities from the Diplomats. Ursinus responded with three penalty corners over the final five minutes of regulation but was unable to find the go-ahead goal, sending the contest into overtime.
Franklin & Marshall missed wide on a shot in the 64th minute before Ursinus earned three penalty corners over the final three minutes of the first overtime period.
In the second overtime, Franklin & Marshall nearly created a one-on-one opportunity with Martin, but the breakaway pass just missed the outstretched stick of a Diplomat forward, keeping the contest scoreless. Ursinus then earned a penalty corner at the 74:51 mark, leading to Wood's game-winning goal. On the corner, Wood inserted the ball to senior
Rachel Fosbenner, who sent a pass to junior
Lauren Habakus at the top of the circle. Habakus fired a shot on goal that junior
Katie Studzinski tipped past the Diplomat goalkeeper toward Wood at the far post for the game-winner.
Ursinus held a 15-14 edge in shots, a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal and a 14-5 lead in penalty corners. Martin earned the win in goal for the Bears, tying a career high with six saves and recording her third career shutout. Franklin & Marshall's Meghan Dole took the loss after making seven saves.
The Bears return to action Friday, traveling to Gettysburg College for a Centennial Conference matchup scheduled for 7 p.m.
