SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Senior defender
Andrea Goldbach's second goal of the season, with just four seconds left in overtime, gave the Mercyhurst University women's field hockey team a 2-1 upset of #4-ranked Shippensburg Saturday afternoon at the Robb Sports Complex. The Lakers improved to 5-7 overall and to 3-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Raiders fell to 8-4 and 3-3 respectively.
Although the Raiders dominated play in the opening half, neither team was able to get on the board. Shippensburg had five first half shots – two on goal – while allowing none. Each team had a corner kick.
Raiders' sophomore Morgan Gantz put the hosts ahead early in the second half when she moved to the middle of the arc and fired a shot past Mercyhurst senior goaltender
Sam Takac at 37:33. But the Lakers retaliated just 28 seconds later when senior
Kierstyn Sturmer scored her first goal of the season following a scrum in front the Raiders' net. It was the Lakers' first shot of the game against Shippensburg senior goalie Taylor Webster.
Shippensburg was awarded a penalty stroke at 59:53 but Takac, who was brilliant throughout, denied senior Molly Stuart's effort and the score remained deadlocked.
Although the Raiders continued to press, there was no further scoring in regulation. Shippensburg outshot Mercyhurst 16-2 in regulation, 9-1 in shots on goal, and had eight corner kicks to three for the Lakers.
Goldbach's goal with four seconds remaining in overtime was the difference as the Lakers claimed the upset.
The Raiders dominated in shots (22-4), shots on goal (14-3), and corners (13-4). The difference was Takac who finished with 13 saves.
Mercyhurst will be back in action this coming Tuesday when it entertains conference-rival Mansfield at 4:00 p.m. at Tullio Field.
