Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Anouk Sickman (Antwerp, Belgium/Lazac Cellepe) scored two goals and assisted on three others, including Shannon Sullivan (Pittsburgh/North Allegheny)'s game-winner with 2:21 remaining, as sixth-ranked IUP avoided an upset with a 6-5 win over Bellarmine in a non-conference field hockey matchup on Monday afternoon at Miller Stadium.

The Crimson Hawks (10-5) held a 4-1 lead at the break before Bellarmine four of the game's next five goals, including two of them 1:35 apart to tie the score at 5-5 with less than 11 minutes remaining.

The first goal of that run came from Lauren Schmeing off a penalty corner at the 40:41 mark. Ellen West then scored for Bellarmine a little over five minutes later, cutting the deficit to one at 4-3.

Alicia Straining (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) then put the Crimson Hawks back on top by two as she took a pass from Sullivan off of a penalty corner and hit the back of the cage for her first score of the season as IUP went up 5-3 with 19 minutes remaining.

Bellarmine then got its quick back-to-back scores at the 57:34 and 59:09 marks to tie the score and nearly complete the comeback. The Crimson Hawks would have none of that, however, cutting down the Knights momentum when Sickman found Sullivan at the top of the circle, who fired a shot past the goalie for the go-ahead score.

The Knights would get one more good chance to tie it, but Rachael Walz' shot with 34 seconds left was forced wide, as IUP held on for the win.

Sullivan bookended the scoring for IUP, getting the first goal of the game at 7:24 when she gathered a rebound for a Sickman shot and slipped it past the goalie. After Bellarmine tied it two minutes later, Sickman put the Crimson Hawks up by two with her 13th and 14th goals of the season. Jillian Duld (Allentown/Parkland) scored the fourth goal of the first half, getting a cross from Sickman on the right side and finding the back of the cage for her sixth goal of the year.

Splitting time in goal for IUP was Sarah Lemieux (Dublin, OH/Dublin Coffman) and Brittany Varacallo (New Britain/Central Bucks South), who collected three and five saves, respectively.

The Crimson Hawks finish up the home portion of their regular season schedule on Wednesday when they host Seton Hill at 7:00 p.m. at Miller Stadium. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Field Hockey Championships begin next Tuesday, October 25, with the seedings and matchups yet to be determined.