COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College field hockey stayed perfect at home as the Bears celebrated Senior Day with a 2-1 victory over Bryn Mawr at chilly Snell Field.
No. 19 Ursinus (12-5, 8-2) moved to 8-0 at home this season and extended its home winning streak to nine games dating back to last year with the victory in the regular season finale.
Most importantly, the Bears locked up the third seed in the Centennial Conference tournament and will play second-seeded No. 11 Johns Hopkins in the semifinals at Franklin & Marshall on Saturday.
As for the game, junior Erin Saybolt fired the opening salvo in the 11th minute. Saybolt took a pass from sophomore Devon Carroll from the top of the circle then poked it into the bottom right corner of the cage. Saybolt recorded her 13th goal of the season, which is good for second in the Centennial. Her 29 points are also second in the conference.
The Bears were held off the scoreboard for the rest of the first half but were able to rip 11 shots and keep Bryn Mawr without a shot in the first session.
In the 47th minute, the Owls tied the game 1-1 after Mary Cugini poked in a goal off a rebound in the crease.
Less than a minute later, Ursinus responded with the eventual game-winning tally as junior Gemma Dufoe deflected junior Anna Hall's shot into the cage.
The Owls (9-8, 2-8) who came off their first victory over Haverford in 20 years in a thrilling penalty shootout earlier in the week, went almost shot-for-shot with the Bears in the second half but couldn't get a second equalizer.
Ursinus outgained Bryn Mawr in shots (19-6) and penalty corners (11-4) in the game.
Ursinus keeper Jules Singer made one save in victory and Bryn Mawr goalie Maggie Titus made four saves.
In a series that dates back to 1927, Ursinus' win marked the 18th straight victory against Bryn Mawr.
The four-member senior class of Maria DiCioccio, Mikayla Jordan, Bridget Sherry and Singer were honored for their dedicated service to athletics, academics and extracurricular activities before the match.