Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Junior attacker Jamie Giffuni (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown) tallied the game-tying goal with just 3:30 to play in regulation to force overtime and allow senior attacker Jen Betts (Potomac, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) to drill the game winner and bring No. 5 Gettysburg back for a 9-8 upset of No. 1 The College of New Jersey in non-conference action at Clark Field on Friday afternoon. Betts tallied her only goal of the game with 34 seconds left in the first half of overtime, and the Bullets hung on for the victory.

Gettysburg (9-1), which has now beaten TCNJ (6-1) in each of the last two regular seasons, came out firing and built up a 7-3 halftime lead. The Lions cut into that with three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Two of them came on free-position attempts. The visitors pulled within one goal at 7-6 with 20:40 to play, but could not get the equalizer until a wild play at the 8:40 mark.

The Bullets forced what looked like a turnover in front of the cage, but in the process of trying to scoop the ball back to freshman goalie Kristen Krammer (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) to begin the clear attempt, TCNJ sophomore midfielder Katie Reuther got a stick on the ball and flipped it in to tie the game at 7-7. Just under two minutes later after a turnover at the Gettysburg end line, sophomore attacker Rachel Gordon hit junior attacker Kate Neese with a pass that she converted into the coast-to-coast go-ahead goal.

Gettysburg managed to tie the game again at 8-8 on an unconventional play of its own. Following a free-position shot that was saved by Lions' junior goalie Caitlin Gregory, a huge scrum ensued in front of the crease. About 10 seconds later, Giffuni emerged with the ball and fired a quick-strike to tie it again. TCNJ held possession for most of the remaining time in regulation, but a staunch Gettysburg defense did not allow the visitors to get a shot off until after time had expired.

The Lions won the opening draw in the extra session and held it for more than half of the three-minute period. Gettysburg senior defender Laurie Goon (Baltimore, Md./Loch Raven) scooped the ground ball off a TCNJ turnover and took off into the Lions' end.

After patiently working the ball around perimeter, senior midfielder Katie Hagan (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) had possession at a flat angle to Gregory's left. Hagan lofted a high pass in front of the crease, where Betts jumped, caught it and shot it all in one motion for the game winner.

Krammer was forced to make a save as time expired in the first half of overtime, and she would be under pressure for the entire second half. The Lions won the draw and were awarded a free-position attempt midway through the period. The shot went wide, but TCNJ retained possession and fired another shot that Krammer saved with 41 seconds left. The ensuing clear attempt failed, but Gettysburg caused a turnover, which it recovered just before time ran out.

Krammer made six saves in the game and improved to 7-1 on the year. Just 10 games into her first season, the rookie netminder already has wins against teams that were ranked 12th, 17th, fourth, 17th, 20th and first at the time of the game to her credit.

Hagan was the game's leading scorer with four points on two goals and two assists. Junior midfielder Megan Moore (Chestertown, Md./Gunston Day School) netted her third straight hat trick and now has multiple goals in six straight over which stretch she has 18 goals and seven assists for 25 points.

For TCNJ, Neese and Gordon each had two goals and an assist for three points. Gregory made 11 saves, but was saddled with the loss.

In the first half, the teams alternated goals twice over the first 8:23 with Gettysburg scoring first each time. The Bullets broke the 2-2 deadlock by scoring the next three goals in a span of 6:43. Gordon ended the run at the 11:57 mark, but Gettysburg converted twice more in the final 8:17.

Hagan scored the first one by making a great individual effort through traffic in front of the crease, and Moore netted a free-position tally with 5:27 showing on the clock.

The Bullets have a short turnaround as they return to conference action and welcome Haverford to Clark Field on Saturday. The teams will take the opening draw at 1 p.m. to close out a three-game Gettysburg home stand.