ASTON, Pa. – The Delaware Valley field hockey team trailed by one heading into the second half and came back stronger evening the score, but the teams stood at a stalemate through the remainder of regulation sending the game into double overtime. Neumann came out on top breaking the tie for the 2-1 victory.
Delaware Valley controlled possession in the first frame. With the shots even at 1-1,
Olivia Rexrode fired a rocket into the circle from the right side to
Alex Graffius for the shot into the goalie's pads. Unable to control the ball on either side, a scramble resulted out front of the cage with the ball finding the foot of an Aggie to turn the ball over. The Knights landed on the board first taking a 1-0 lead into the second half.
A penalty corner in the 31
st minute put the Aggies in prime scoring position with
Ashley Birmingham taking the first shot blocked.
Paige Sammons followed up with three consecutive shots over the next four minutes, all saved. Birmingham got her chance again, converting the shot to even the score, 1-1.
The Aggies managed the only shot of the first overtime period with Sammons firing at the cage off a penalty corner. Despite two more corner opportunities the Aggies couldn't break the stalemate and forced a second overtime
DelVal earned the first quarter of the second OT with
Kaylee Hartung sending a shot wide. The Knights went on to gain possession, earning two corners of their own and converting in the 73
rd minute to win the game.
Alyssa Rudd protected the cage through all 74 minutes of play making one save on three shots faced.
The Aggies return to action at home on Robert A. Lipinski Field this Friday, Sep. 20 at 7 p.m. when they host Sewanee in their Morgan's Message Awareness game.
