EDWARDSVILLE – Despite trailing by two goals in the second half, the Wilkes University field hockey team showed its heart with a comeback to force the game into overtime against Widener University and ultimately a penalty shootout, where it fell 3-0, dropping the game by a 5-4 final at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels fell to 2-2 with the defeat.

The Pride wasted no time getting the scoring started with a tally in the sixth minute.

Wilkes responded just over a minute later when Lauren Shiplett (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) found Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) to tie the score at one.

Widener had the answer to the Colonels score, notching two more goals in the 17^th and 24^th minutes.

Wilkes cut the deficit in the 27^th minute when Shiplett agains set up a teammate, this time Haley Gayoski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West). Widener again had a response, regaining a two-goal lead at 4-2 in the 28^th minute, which is where the score stood entering halftime.

The Colonels began their comeback in the 55^th minute when Lauren Baldwin (Clarks Summit, PA/Lackawanna Trail) found the back of the cage on an assist from Zoe Stepanski (Dallas, PA/Dallas). The score was tied in the 57^th minute as Amber Grohowski (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) found Cheyenne Mazzocca (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) for a backhander past the Pride goalkeeper.

Both teams had opportunities through the remainder of regulation and through the first two overtimes, but Wilkes' Dallas Kendra (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) and Widener's Sabrina Roberto had the answer each and every time.

The difference came after the final buzzer, when the Pride converted three attempts and the Colonels were unable to convert.

Kendra and Roberto made nine saves in the cage for their respective teams.

Wilkes returns to action on Thursday when it will host Cedar Crest College for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference game at Schmidt Stadium.