Box Score
INDIANA, PA –
Anouk Sickman (Antwerp, Belgium/Lazac Cellepe) and
Shannon Sullivan (Pittsburgh/North Allegheny) each scored a pair of goals for IUP, with Sickman's second being the game-winner in overtime, as the Crimson Hawks defeated Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West rival Mercyhurst 4-3 in field hockey action on Saturday afternoon at George P. Miller Stadium.
Overtime was set up when Mercyhurst tied the score at three-apiece with 20 minutes to go in the second half. The Crimson Hawks had many chances to take the lead after that, as IUP had five corners and six shots over the final 18 minutes, but couldn't get one past the goalie.
The Crimson Hawks (6-2, 3-1) outshot Mercyhurst in the first overtime 6-5 but both teams came up empty for force the second 15-minute period. The game didn't last much after that, as the game-winner by Sickman came just 17 seconds into the second overtime and was her seventh of the season.
It was a back-and-forth game throughout the first 50 minutes, as both teams traded goals.
IUP got on the board first when Sullivan knocked in her first of the game off a pass from
Erin Shirk (Paradise/Pequea Valley) less than two minutes in.
The Lakers (4-4, 2-2) got on the board 30 minutes later when Marissa Faso found the back of the cage to tie the game at 1-1. The Crimson Hawks then answered just 2:12 later when Sullivan knocked in her seventh goal of the year off a pass from
Jillian Duld (Allentown/Parkland). Mercyhurst then got the last scoring chance of the half, as Meghan Smith knocked one in with no time left to head into halftime with the score tied at 2-2.
The first score of the second half came from Sickman at the 41:37 mark, with the assist coming from Duld.
The Crimson Hawks continued to split time between their goalies, as
Brittany Varacallo (New Britain/Central Bucks South) got the start and played the first half, saving a pair of shots.
Sarah Lemieux (Dublin, OH/Dublin Coffman) entered in the second half and played both overtimes, notching five saves.
IUP returns to the field on Tuesday as the Crimson Hawks travel to play Seton Hill at 4:00 p.m.
