By James Wagner
Director of Athletic Communications
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – In a battle of two nationally-ranked teams, eighth-ranked Catholic scored a goal with just 5:09 left in the second overtime period as the Cardinals (14-1) defeated Ursinus (13-3) 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Hayley Wright scored the eventual game-winning goal at 94:51 on a tip-in of a shot from Kiera McGovern, as the teams went to seven-on-seven for the final two periods.
Ursinus, ranked sixth in the country, had rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit by scoring two goals in the first four minutes of the second half, both coming from Megan Keenan. However, McGovern tied the score in the 62nd minute with a goal on an assist from Maura Campbell.
The stats were very even in the contest, with Ursinus holding a 28-27 lead in shots and a 20-15 edge in corners.
Following Catholic's second goal with just over nine minutes left, Ursinus had three shots in the final part of the second half. The Bears also had three penalty corners as time expired, but, all three shots were blocked.
Heading into the overtime, the Bears were playing short-handed due to a yellow card in the latter stages of the second half. Following two shots from Catholic's Kim Hermann, Ursinus got back into their circle. A shot by Kelsey Reed was saved by Cardinals goalkeeper Analisa Scott at 74:07. Ursinus had another chance with two corners in the 77th and 78th minutes, but again, both shots were blocked.
Reed had a chance to win it in the 81st minute, but her shot went just wide of the cage and the game remained tied. Catholic had two shots in the final two minutes of the first overtime but could not get one across.
In the second overtime, Ursinus had three penalty corners, but, the lone shot from Keenan was blocked at 88:24. Ursinus goalkeeper Danielle DeSpirito made two saves in the latter part of the 90th minute, both on Maura Campbell, to keep the game tied.
After a yellow card issued to Ursinus, the Bears were again playing shorthanded. Ursinus was able to get one last shot off, but, Annie Kopera's shot was wide.
The game-winning goal then came off of a corner starting at 92:21.
Both goalkeepers were outstanding, as DeSpirito finished with 11 saves, with Scott ending with nine.
Ursinus, who clinched the top-seed in the upcoming Centennial Conference tournament, will host Muhlenberg on Saturday at noon.