Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Gettysburg outshot Eastern Mennonite University 29-11, but the Royals netted the game-winning goal with 16:00 left as the Bullets dropped a 3-2 non-conference decision in the season opener for both teams Friday afternoon.

The Bullets lost their season opener for the first time since 2003 which was against, ironically, Eastern Mennonite. Gettysburg had won its last six meetings with the Royals.

EMU jumped to an early 2-0 before the Bullets tied it up with goals at the end of the first half and start of the second period. But Mandy Stowers secured the victory for the Royals when she scored off an assist from Hailee Rittle.

Becky Nolt made six of her nine saves in the second half for the Royals.

Adriana Santiago gave Eastern Mennonite its early two-goal advantage, scoring twice in a 3:27 span to make it 2-0 with 19:22 left in the half. The Bullets, who took 15 shots during the opening stanza, finally broke through with 5:45 to go, when freshman Erica Barbuto converted a feed from classmate Liz Baron to cut the lead in half heading into the locker room.

Junior Sarah Cole knotted the score 3:41 into the second period, delivering an unassisted tally into the back right corner of the cage on Gettysburg's first shot of the half.

The Bullets would fire off 13 more shots over the remainder of the period, including the last five of the day following Stowers' game-winner. But Nolt came up with four of her stops in the final 16 minutes, including two inside the last three minutes.

Gettysburg also held a 13-5 advantage in penalty corners.

Sophomore Megan Feeg recorded two saves in her first collegiate start.

Gettysburg returns to non-conference action on Tuesday, when it visits York (Pa.) College at 4:30 p.m.