DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Delaware Valley field hockey team came back from a single-goal deficit to force overtime against DeSales ultimately falling in the fourth minute to the Bulldogs to drop the contest 3-2.
 
The Aggies set the tone six minutes converting a penalty corner taken by senior Paige Sammons. The ball made its way to Kenzie Boyd up top who dumped the pass left to Ashley Birmingham. The graduate student stepped up to take the power shot right in the back of the cage for an early 1-0 lead.
 
Goalkeeper Alyssa Rudd helped keep the Aggies in the lead shining in the cage. With 4:30 on the clock DeSales saw its chance on the right of the net leaving Rudd to dive across the cage just making the save on the left corner of her stick. With just 12 seconds left on the clock, the Bulldogs brought the ball down the goal line drawing out Rudd making the pass out front of the open net, but Aggies defender Jillian Collins quickly stepped in to intercept and prevent a tap into the cage.
 
As the clock hit zero, the Bulldogs earned their lone corner of the frame converting the attempt to even the score at 1-1.
 
DelVal had some good looks in the second quarter with back-to-back shots coming from Sammons followed by a sweeping shot just wide of the net from Sydney Keagle off the corner attempt. But just a minute later DeSales broke away with a rocket shot that found its way past Rudd for the 2-1 lead at the half.
 
The Aggies' defense remained steadfast at the start of the second half. The Bulldogs offense beat three defenders on a breakaway and set up the attack on an open cage when Kenzie Boyd swiftly stepped in to scoop up the ball and clear the play. Just two minutes later, Birmingham stepped up to block the shot attempt on the corner to set up a breakaway for Kaylee Hartung who drew the first corner attempt for the Aggies in the second half.
 
Sammons went to the goal line for the insert again connecting with the stick of Birmingham across the top left of the circle. Birmingham took one touch into the arc before ripping off the shot to even the score, 2-2.
 
DelVal worked to take the lead early in the fourth quarter with Sammons drawing out the goalie and sending her to the ground while firing off two shots. DeSales went on to dominate possession using a breakaway to draw the penalty stroke that could even the game. On the whistle, the shot made its way to the bottom left of the cage, but was no match for a diving Rudd who made the save to keep the score knotted at two apiece.
 
The Aggies got off the first shot of the overtime period, but possession remained in the hands of DeSales over the ensuing two minutes leading to the Bulldogs to end the game with the golden goal from the top of the circle for the win.
 
DelVal returns to action this Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. for their final home game of the regular season against King's.