Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Locked in a 3-3 tie early in the second overtime period, Anouk Sickman (Antwerp, Belgium/Lazac Cellepe) deposited the game-winning goal to give the fourth-ranked IUP field hockey team a 4-3 win over 10th-ranked East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover action Saturday.

Not to be lost in the late-game fireworks was the outstanding individual performance of Nicole Bruce (Clarks Summit/Lackawanna Trail), who tallied all three of IUP's goals in regulation. Her first came late in the first half when she knocked in a loose ball in front of the net to give the Crimson Hawks a 1-0 lead at the break.

East Stroudsburg would respond in a big way, however, as Ally Roth netted back-to-back goals at 43:09 and 50:52, respectively, to give the Warriors a 2-1 advantage with just under 20 minutes to play in the second half.

It was Bruce's turn to notch consecutive goals next, and she drove home a pair of goals within three minutes of each other to swing momentum back in favor of IUP. Bruce ripped a shot from the top of the point that deflected off an East Stroudsburg defender and found the back of the net to knot the game at 2-2, and followed with an easy goal from five yards out thanks to a beautiful pass from Chelsea Wanamaker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) at the 56:14 mark.

The lead would not stand for long, however, as Jessica Lawville rebounded a shot from Roth and deposited the goal just over a minute later to tie it 3-3 and send the game into overtime.

The Warriors would dominate the first overtime period, outshooting the Crimson Hawks 5-1, but IUP goalkeeper Sarah Lemieux (Dublin, OH/Dublin Coffman) was up to the task, turning away every East Stroudsburg attempt. Lemieux played the entire second half and overtime in goal for the Crimson Hawks and had nine saves, while Brittany Varacallo (New Britain/Central Bucks South) got the start and had two saves in 35 scoreless minutes.

Sickman was relatively quiet in regulation, mustering just one shot in the first 70 minutes of action, but she more than made up for it just two minutes into the second overtime period when she took a penalty corner and buried the goal to send the raucous crowd at Miller Stadium into a frenzy.

With the win, The Crimson Hawks have now won six consecutive games dating back to September 14. IUP is now 10-2 on the season, while East Stroudsburg falls to 4-7.

The Crimson Hawks hit the road for a four-game trip that begins this Wednesday at Slippery Rock. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.