Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – Bryn Mawr's field hockey program traveled to Lancaster, Pa. on Thursday evening to compete in the Centennial Conference playoffs against the Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall. The evening marked multiple firsts for the field hockey program. It included the program's first ever win against Franklin & Marshall, the most wins in a season (15), and the most wins for a senior class. Additionally, it was the Owls' second ever highest ranked win.
The Owls came out hot in the first quarter gaining early possession as they looked to get on the scoreboard before the Diplomats. Although Bryn Mawr managed to keep the ball near the Diplomat's goal, it was not until the sixth minute that the first shot was taken. At 6:10, Paige Schaefer took a penalty corner for the Owls. Maggie Barilla received the corner and immediately passed to Eva Yacura, who quickly struck it past every Diplomat defender, scoring her 11th goal of the season putting Bryn Mawr on the scoreboard. The Diplomats kept the pressure on the Owls for the rest of the quarter, but the defense held strong, and Bryn Mawr maintained their 1-0 lead.
The Diplomats took the first shot of the second quarter quickly after it began, but the ball soared wide. Four and a half minutes later, Bryn Mawr returned to the Diplomat's goal. Schaefer gained possession after a Diplomat foul, but the Owls were unable to keep possession. Bryn Mawr received another opportunity around the 21st minute. The Owls' defense passed to forward Hazel Miller who took the ball down the field, but she was unable to find her chance to shoot. Bryn Mawr found themselves back in scoring territory with less than five minutes left in the quarter. Charlotte Hauptman prepared for a shot but was tripped by a Diplomat player. This resulted in a penalty shot, which was taken by Kate Ervin. With only Ervin and the Diplomat's goalkeeper within the circle, Ervin shot a bullet. Unreachable by the goalie, Ervin scored the Owls' second goal. Neither team took another shot for the remainer of the quarter.
The third quarter was full of shots by both teams, but neither managed to score. Yacura took a total of four shots and Ervin one. The quarter ended as it began, the Owls' leading 2-0.
Although the Owls looked poised for the win at the end of the third quarter, Franklin & Marshall fought back in the fourth. Maintaining possession throughout the first half of the final quarter, the Diplomats took a total of four shots within the first eight minutes. They also took two penalty corners, each within 13 seconds of one another. Nothing came of the first, but the second resulted in a goal. Franklin & Marshall took another corner less than two minutes later at 53:19. Titus stepped out of net and kicked the first shot, but it was found by another Franklin & Marshall player who shot into an open net to tie the game at 2-2. The Owls pressured the Diplomats throughout the rest of the fourth quarter in hopes of regaining their lead. Novy Goetgeluk, Maggie Barilla, and Eva Yacura each looked to give their team a third goal, but they were unable to get past the opposing goalkeeper and the fourth quarter ended in a tie.
With only six players and a goalkeeper remaining on the field for each team, the game moved into a ten-minute overtime to decide who would take the night's win. Franklin & Marshall immediately put pressure on the Owls. The Diplomats took the first shot within the first minute and a half, but Titus blocked it with her foot. In a bizarre twist, Franklin & Marshall received four penalty corners within two minutes. Four shots were taken, but Titus stopped every potentially game-winning goal. However, Franklin & Marshall's good fortune did not end there. At 65:46, the home team received a penalty shot. To the relief of the Owls, however, it went wide, and the game continued. Miller took one shot before the end of the first overtime, but the Diplomat goalkeeper made the save.
The teams returned to the field for a second overtime. Three minutes in, the home team shot, but it went wide. The Diplomats kept play near the Owls' goal for the next two minutes. However, Courtney Cutone finally managed to bring the ball to midfield at 73:20. Passing it to an open Sarah Chapman, she sprinted around a Diplomat player and shot a backhand through four Diplomats. The bang of the ball hitting the back of the cage sent Owls fans into a frenzy, and the first time in program history, Bryn Mawr triumphed over Franklin & Marshall to advance to the Conference Championship (3-2).
The Owls were supported Thursday evening by members of Bryn Mawr's soccer and lacrosse programs, President Cassidy, members of the athletics department, including Athletic Director Dr. Cristina Fink, alumnae, families, and friends.
Bryn Mawr will travel to Johns Hopkins on Saturday to compete in their first ever playoff championship.
