Morgan's OT Winner Lifts Wilkes Field Hockey Over Eastern 2-1
EDWARDSVILLE –
Sage Morgan (Dallas, PA/Lake Lehman) scored the game-winning goal with just over one minute left in the first overtime to lift the Wilkes University field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over undefeated Eastern University Tuesday night at Schmidt Stadium.
Wilkes finished its non-conference schedule 3-5 overall following the home win. Eastern dropped its first game of the season moving to 6-1 on the year.
Wilkes struck first with a little over two minutes left in the first quarter when
Maddie Karp (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) dribbled down the right side and slid a pass in front of the goal where
Anyiah Torres (Cape May, NJ/Middle Township) knocked it home to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead.
Eastern answered back in the third quarter when Cameron Brancato found the back of the cage off an assist from Karlee Howard 2:24 into the second half.
The teams traded chances late in the fourth frame with each garnering several penalty corners but the game remained tied at one at the end of regulation.
The trend of scoring chances continued into the first overtime before Morgan's heroics in front of the goal as the junior deposited her third goal of the season in a pile of Eastern defenders with 1:07 on the clock.
Wilkes held a 23-18 shot advantage throughout while garnering eight penalty corners.
Chloe Gilroy (Manchester, NH/Pace University) finished with 12 saves for the Colonels to record the win in goal. Gilroy had some help from defender
Emma Dengler (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) who made a huge defensive save in the fourth quarter where she stopped a shot in midair headed for the goal.
Wilkes begins Landmark Conference play Saturday when the Colonels host Elizabethtown College at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.
