Box Score
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Junior Savannah Ruth (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) scored the game-winning goal in overtime, leading the Gettysburg College field hockey team over Washington (Md.) College 3-2 in Centennial Conference action Friday afternoon at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium.
Gettysburg (8-5, 4-2 CC) controlled the game throughout, outshooting the Shorewomen 22-5, but had to overcome an 11-save performance from Washington goalie Elena Nicholoff, who was outstanding over the final minutes of regulation.
Ruth had a hand in all three of Gettysburg's scores, finishing with two goals and one assist.
The Bullets never trailed after Ruth's first goal of the game. With 31:20 on the clock, she accepted a corner pass from junior Nikki Dyer (Kildeer, Stevenson) and, from the top of the circle, blasted home the first shot of the game.
Washington (4-9, 0-6 CC) pulled even with 11:55 left in the opening half. Amy Spadanuta drilled in a straightaway shot that deflected off the goalkeeper and into the back of the cage. However, junior Emily Harwood (Rockville, Md./Magruder) put the Bullets back on top nearly three minutes later, when from the left post she swatted in a backhand pass from Ruth, making it a 2-1 game at the intermission.
The Shorewomen were awarded a penalty stroke with 28:14 left in regulation, and Kelsey Kemp connected to tie the game once again. The Bullets then turned up the heat down the stretch, taking seven shots over the final 7:45. Gettysburg's final four shots over the final 4:22 were all on goal, but Nicholoff saved all four, including a spectacular glove stop on a hard and high shot that started the barrage.
Playing 7-on-7 in overtime, Ruth broke into the open field on a breakaway and took a long pass from Harwood. Nicholoff came out to meet Ruth and deflected the ball at the top of the circle, but Ruth was able to retrieve it the left wing before firing the game-winner into a wide-open cage for her team-leading 10th goal of the season.
Senior Katherine Corkhill (Paoli, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame) finished with three saves to earn the win in goal for Gettysburg.
The Bullets return to action on Wednesday, when they visit McDaniel College in a Centennial Conference game starting at 4 p.m.
