EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University field hockey team played an inspired game on the team's senior night, taking the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Devils, a team receiving votes in the latest Longstreth/NFHCA national rankings to overtime, falling by a 1-0 final in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action at Schmidt Stadium on Friday evening.

The Colonels now stand at 2-1 in conference play and 6-6 overall.

Neither team gained an advantage through the first 20 minutes as FDU-Florham notched five corners compared to three for Wilkes.

The Colonels were awarded an odd-man chance when the Devils received a green card in the in the 30^th minute, but Wilkes was unable to convert on its short opportunity as the contest entered halftime even at zero goals apiece.

As the second half moved on the Colonels began to feel the flow of the game go their way, spending a majority of the half in the offensive zone. Early in the second half, as FDU-Florham applied pressure, Dallas Kendra (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) made four straight saves including a nice reverse save on a laser shot off a penalty corner.

In the 64^th minute, the Devils were awarded a penalty corner that engineered two opportunities, the last of which resulted in a diving save from Kendra to knock the ball out-of-bounds.

Wilkes found itself sprinting up the left sideline in the 65^th minute as Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) and Mackenzie Sweeney (Millville, PA/Millville) played give-and-go before passing out wide to Amber Grohowski (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke), who played the ball into the slot before FDU-Florham was called for an infraction. On the resulting play, Sweeney found herself all alone in front of the Devils goalkeeper for a shot that was saved.

In the 68^th minute, the Colonel defense broke down allowing a wide-open shot for FDU-Florham, forcing Kendra to make a sprawling kick save and keep the game even, keeping the score tied after regulation.

FDU-Florham ended the game in the 72^nd minute on a breakaway that become an odd-man rush, capitalized when Jessica Pietracatella lined a shot into the bottom left corner of the cage for the Devils.

Kendra provided a spectacular effort in the cage, making nine saves to keep Wilkes going.

The Colonels return to action on Monday when they will host Arcadia University at 7:00 p.m. in non-conference action.