MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Jess Davidson found the net twice, including the overtime game-winner, as IUP field hockey opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in grand fashion with a 2-1 win over seventh-ranked Millersville on Saturday.
Davidson scored both goals for IUP (4-2, 1-0) late in the contest as unassisted markers in the fourth quarter and overtime. In what was largely a defensive battle for much of the night, Millersville (4-2, 0-1) opened the scoring just under five minutes into the contest with a marker from Bri Harsh.
The early goal proved to be a lead the Marauders held until early in the fourth quarter. Davidson netted her seventh goal of the season early in the fourth, coming shortly after a penalty corner chance for the Crimson Hawks. Despite Millersville looking poised to break through early in overtime, it was IUP that found the net off a quick restart and long feed into the attacking box.
Millersville held a 14-9 edge in shots, while IUP held an 11-10 advantage in penalty corners. Saturday's victory against Millersville was the first for IUP since 2017, a 1-0 triumph at Miller Stadium.
Anita Planella logged a season-high eight saves in goal for IUP.
Trailing 1-0, IUP sent a penalty corner chance near goal with
Roos van Herel posting a quality look in tight quarters. It marked the lone shot of the opening quarter for IUP as both teams raced up and down the field.
IUP and Millersville were both up to the task defensively in the second quarter with much of the possession for both sides around the middle of the field. The Hawks made one final push up the field just before the half but were unable to get a quality chance. Shots were even at one each through 30 minutes of action.
Early in the third, IUP swept aside the first Millersville penalty corner of the contest. Millersville responded with strong defense on a pair of IUP penalty corner chances as Kristen Koons booted away a van Herel opportunity at the 32:26 mark.
Chances were limited into the fourth quarter before IUP knotted the score at one. Set up following the eighth penalty corner of the night for IUP, Davidson converted in traffic at the 47:52 mark of the game and early in the fourth quarter. Several minutes later, IUP nearly converted a back-post feed.
The Marauders nearly evened the score with Harsh ripping a chance just beyond the right post with about two minutes left. IUP drew one final penalty corner with under 10 seconds remaining as the game went to overtime.
Millersville dictated play early in the overtime period with seven shots and seven penalty corners over the initial 10 minutes. IUP turned the momentum and eventually closed out the game in overtime.
Up Next
IUP hosts Slippery Rock on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m.
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