EDWARDSVILLE – Morghan Murphy (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) and Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) scored third quarter goals for the Wilkes University field hockey team but visiting Alvernia University scored the go-ahead goal in the fourth to earn the non-conference victory at Schmidt Stadium Saturday night.

Wilkes dropped to 3-3 on the season following its second one-goal loss. Alvernia improved to 4-2 with the win.

Lauren Baldwin (Clarks Summit, PA/Lackawanna Trail) had the first shot of the game at the 1:16 mark but her attempt was saved by the Golden Wolves goalkeeper Emma Beamesderfer. Rachael Beemer then scored on Alvernia's first shot at the 2:42 mark to give the visitors the lead. Following a penalty corner pass by Felicia Getz, McKenzy Lilliock scored to give Alvernia a 2-0 lead with just 25 seconds left in the first 15-minute quarter.

Neither team found the cage in the second quarter as the Colonels had three shots compared to two for the Golden Wolves.

Wilkes picked up the offensive pressure after the halftime break. After two shots went wide and another was saved it was Murphy who cut in from right to left and backhanded the ball into the lower-left side of the cage to make the score 2-1 in the 36th minute. It was Murphy's team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Kelley then scored her eighth career goal and first of the 2019 season just 2:11 after Murphy's goal to even the score at 2-2. Ali Dunn (Pittston, PA/Pittston) was credited with the assist on Kelley's tally.

Getz scored the game-winning goal for Alvernia off an assist from Erica Groves just shy of three minutes into the fourth quarter in the 48th minute. The Colonels had two penalty corners and one shot in the final five minutes but were unable to find the tying goal.

Mya Zak (South Wales, NY/Holland) made two saves in her first collegiate start in goal for the Colonels. Beamesderfer countered with six saves and earned the win.

The Colonels had 13 shots (8 on-goal) compared to eight shots (5 on-goal) for the Golden Wolves. Each team had four penalty corners.

Wilkes will stay at Schmidt Stadium for its next game when the Colonels play host to Moravian College on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. Wilkes is 8-0 against Moravian since 2007 including a 3-2 victory last season in Bethlehem, Pa.