EDWARDSVILLE – Taylor Bower (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) scored six minutes into overtime to lift the Wilkes University field hockey team to a 3-2 Landmark Conference victory over visiting Catholic University Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes improved to 8-6 overall and 3-1 in league games following the home win. Catholic dropped to 1-9 overall and 1-2 in Landmark play.
 
The teams went scoreless over the first 15 minutes of play before Catholic took a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Katie Flynn at 21:26. The Colonels tied the game at one eight minutes later when Maddie Karp (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) tipped in a shot from Lydia Keppel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) at the top of the box.
 
Emma Lautenbacher (Bangor, PA/Bangor) put the Colonels ahead midway through the third frame as she found the back of the cage off a helper from Karp.
 
Catholic turn up the pressure offensively and eventually found the equalizer as the Cardinals tied the game at two with 1:42 left in regulation.
 
From there it was Bower who took a pass in front of the goal from Morgan Hermanofski (Shickshinny, PA/Northwest Area) and deposited the shot into the empty goal to give Wilkes the important conference victory.
 
Catholic outshot Wilkes 20-16 while garnering 11 penalty corners to Wilkes four attempts.
 
Chloe Gilroy (Manchester, NH/Pace University) earned the win in goal making 10 saves. Ella Bowman finished with nine stops for Catholic.
 
Wilkes continues Landmark play Wednesday when the Colonels travel to Drew University for a 7:00 p.m. matchup.