EDWARDSVILLE – A late fourth quarter goal by junior Olivia Gayoski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) brought the Wilkes University field hockey team within one, however the score of the Landmark Conference matchup would remain 4-3 in favor of Moravian on Saturday evening at Bruggeworth Field.
 
The loss dropped the Colonels' overall record to 6-4 overall and 1-2 in Landmark play. With the win, Moravian jumped to 3-6 on the season and 1-2 in conference contests.
 
Onalee Long opened the scoring for Moravian at 6:59 into the first quarter. Her second goal of the season put the Greyhounds up 1-0.
 
Wilkes answered back just over five minutes later when Bridget Rosenfeld (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) slid a pass over to Morgan Millard (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg Area), who buried a shot to the back of the Moravian net for her second goal in as many games. The goal came at 12:12 and  knotted the score at 1-1.
 
The Colonels came out of the gate with intensity in the second quarter, quickly gaining the lead behind Lexie Nevel's (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) third goal of the season. First Year Morgan Hermanofski (Shickshinny, PA/Northwest Area) picked up an assist on Nevel's marker at 19:31, which gave Wilkes a 2-1 lead. The score would hold throughout the remainder of the half.
 
It didn't take long for the Greyhounds to respond in the second half. After sustained offensive pressure and four consecutive penalty corners, Sarah Bietka finally snuck a shot past Wilkes goalkeeper Carly Eidle (East Greenville, PA/Upper Perkiomen) to make it a 2-2 contest at 35:49. 
 
Eidle and Moravian goalkeeper Maia Machado would trade saves in the dying minutes of the third quarter to keep the game even at 2 goals apiece.
 
Moravian forward Gia Ambrosino took control in the fourth quarter with two goals in the span of just over four minutes. Bietka picked up an assist on her first goal at 50:51, while Brooke Sodl was credited with the assist on Ambrosino's second of the night at 55:09. The pair of goals put the Greyhounds up 4-2 with under five minutes remaining.
 
The Wilkes offense refused to give up, responding quickly with a goal from Olivia Gayoski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) at 57:28. Her unassisted tally brought the Colonels within one score of tying the game, however they were unable to sneak another goal in before time ran out. The final buzzer sounded with a final score of 4-3.
 
Nevel led Wilkes with one goal on two shots, while Millard and Gayoski also both recorded a goal in the loss. Eidle made one save on the night for the Colonels.
 
Ambrosino was the difference-maker for Moravian, scoring two goals on two shots and adding an assist. She was supported by Sarah Bietka, who recorded two shots, a goal and an assist. Machado made two saves in the win.
 
The Colonels hit the road Monday when they visit Marywood University for a 4:00 p.m. contest.