COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Sophomore forward
Kylie Moore scored the game-winning goal, lifting the 14th-ranked Ursinus field hockey team to a 3-2 double-overtime victory over No. 11 Messiah University on Wednesday evening at Snell Alumnae Field.
With the victory, Ursinus improves to 5-0 to open the season, while the Falcons fall to 2-3 overall. The victory marked the Bears' first double-overtime victory since defeating Franklin & Marshall, 3-2, in the Centennial Conference Championship semifinals in November 2024.
Moore highlighted the scoring for the Bears with her game-winning tally in the 78th minute, while seniors
Kirsten Johnson and
Marie Brainard each added goals for the Ursinus offense.
Senior
Ava Mikulski recorded the Bears' first shot attempt of the evening in the second minute, as her attempt resulted in a diving save by the Falcons' goalie. Messiah responded with each of the next three shot attempts, but each opportunity was off target, keeping the contest tied entering the second stanza.
The Falcons received the game's first penalty corner during the 16th minute, but Messiah's Ellie Lefever's shot missed wide of the cage to keep the game tied. Next, during the 24th minute on the Bears' first penalty corner, Johnson redirected Moore's initial shot into the back of the cage to give Ursinus a 1-0 lead and her fifth goal of the season. Both defenses denied the opposition throughout the remainder of the first half, as Ursinus carried a one-goal advantage into the halftime break.
Ursinus opened the second half by recording two corners and three shots but was turned away, as the Falcons' defense blocked multiple chances. Messiah evened the score at one apiece with 4:21 remaining in the period when Aubrey Clark redirected a shot from Naomi Lyter in front of the cage. The Falcons carried the momentum into the fourth period, totaling six straight penalty corners and six shots, but first-year goalie
Elise Martin and the Bears' defense denied each chance to keep the contest tied at one.
Ursinus responded at the 7:32 mark of the fourth period on Brainard's seventh goal of the season off an assist from Johnson to give the Bears a 2-1 lead. On a penalty corner, Brainard received the inserted pass and fired a shot toward the right corner of the cage for the game's go-ahead goal. Brainard's score marked her fifth straight game with a goal for the Bears.
However, just two minutes later, Messiah's Addie Weiler connected on a scoring chance to tie the game at two with 6:02 remaining in the contest. Next, the Bears' defense fought through a pair of green cards before tallying two final shots in the fourth period, but the contest entered the first overtime tied at two.
The Ursinus defense carried the momentum into the first overtime, denying a pair of shots by the Falcons before Moore connected with 1:56 remaining in the second overtime, delivering the game-winning goal for the Bears. On the play, Mikulski created a fast-break opportunity before sneaking a pass through the Falcons' defense, finding Moore for a one-on-one opportunity. Moore fired a backhanded shot that snuck under a diving attempt by the Falcons' goalie, resulting in the 3-2 victory for Ursinus.
Messiah held an 18-16 advantage in shots and a 9-6 edge in penalty corners, while the Bears earned a 9-6 lead in shots on goal. Martin earned the victory in goal for the Bears, posting three saves, while Messiah's Joy Lippert suffered the loss behind a game-high six saves.
The Bears return to action on Friday, September 18th, as they host No. 12 Stevenson University at 5 p.m. at the Snell Field Hockey Field.
