Erie, Pa. – Junior Courtney Loper couldn't have scored her first goal of the season at a better time, finding the back of the cage with 4:38 left in regulation to tie the game at 2-2 and force overtime. But a late goal by Kutztown erased that feat and lifted the No. 5 Golden Bears to a 3-2 victory over the Mercyhurst College field hockey team Sunday afternoon at Tullio Field.
Loper's marker, set up by one of senior Courtney Monin's two assists, sailed from the top of the arc past netminder Emily Falko to tie the game.
However, Kutztown would spoil the Lakers' upset bid with just 1:11 left in overtime. KU's Lindsay Butler clinched the team's eighth victory of the season and head coach Betty Wesner's 300th career with an unassisted strike near the goal line.
With the loss, the Lakers fall to 2-4 overall and 2-1 at home, while the Golden Bears improve to 8-1 overall.
Neither team could light the scoreboard until early in the second half. Senior Haley Brochu scored her second goal in as many games when she knocked in a pass from a smothered Monin on the doorstep at 36:39.
Kutztown would find their offensive spark though, scoring the game's next two goals. Anne Waapu tied the game at 1-1 with a long rip to the far post at 53:08 while Carrie Healy tapped in a pass from Butler just four minutes later to give the Golden Bears a 2-1 lead.
Kutztown held the advantage in shots, 19-9, and penalty corners, 8-5. Both teams combined for 77 fouls in the game.
Senior Jen Macri made seven saves, while counterpart Falko stopped three.
Mercyhurst heads to the road this week with a contest against Pennsylvania State Athletic foe Indiana (Pa.) on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
