Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Senior Mandy Buell (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) scored the eventual game-winning goal with 2:17 left in overtime to lift No. 4 Gettysburg past No. 11 College of New Jersey 13-12 at Clark Field on Thursday.
 
Epic doesn't even begin to describe the recent games turned in by Gettysburg (5-1) and TCNJ (3-2). In 19 all-time meetings, 10 have been decided by one goal, including each of the last three. Thursday's affair also marked the second consecutive overtime battle between the national powers.
 
After getting dominated by Cortland inside the draw circle last time out, the Bullets handled the Lions 18-11 led by junior Maggie Connolly (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) who finished with seven draw controls and three goals. Buell also scored three times and added two assists, while junior Abby Baigelman (Larchmont, N.Y./Mamaroneck) found the back of the net three times.
 
Kendal Borup paced TCNJ with five goals and two assists. Cortney Natalicchio added four goals, while Ava Fitzgerald posted two goals and one assist.
 
Gettysburg was efficient offensively in the first half as the Bullets scored on all nine shot attempts. The hosts jumped out to a 4-1 lead just over 12 minutes into the game.
 
After the Lions closed to 5-3, Gettysburg ran off a three-goal spurt with free-position goals by Buell and junior Emily Tropsa (Darien, Conn./Darien) followed by tally by Bridget Kenny (Gladstone, N.J./Bernards) off a feed by Buell. Kenny capped the half by finding Baigelman to spot Gettysburg a 9-4 lead at the break.
 

 
In a repeat of last season's overtime showdown, the Lions roared back late in the second half on Thursday. After Baigelman scored on an acrobatic catch-and-shoot play to make it 11-7 with 13:14 left, TCNJ ripped off each of the next four goals to tie the game. Fitzgerald provided the equalizer to make it 11-11 with 1:25 left in regulation.
 
Buell drew a free-position attempt with less than a minute left, but her ensuing shot was stopped by goalie Kelly Schlupp. Gettysburg maintained possession of the ball until an offensive foul was called with seven seconds left. An exchange of quick turnovers capped regulation.
 
Connolly established control early for the Bullets in the extra period, winning the opening draw and marching right to goal in 12 seconds. TCNJ returned the favor following the next draw with Fitzgerald tying the game with 4:53 left.
 
Another win off the draw spelled a goal for the hosts. Working from behind the cage, freshman Katie Landry (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) split a pair of defenders and founding a streaking Buell going straight to the cage for the eventual game-winner.
 
The Bullets won the game's final draw control and maintained possession until just 39 seconds remained. After a turnover and TCNJ timeout, the Lions had trouble breaking up the field against Gettysburg's defensive pressure and had only a few seconds left on the clock to get a shot off. A last-ditch effort by Natalicchio found the back of the net after the buzzer sounded.
 
TCNJ held the advantage in shots (27-19) and ground balls (19-17). The Lions finished just 15-of-21 on clear attempts.
 
Sophomore goalie Shannon Keeler (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) recorded six saves and picked off a pair of passes resulting in two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Nine different players recorded a caused turnover for the Bullets, including two by Kenny. Kenny also added four draw controls, while Buell scooped four ground balls and two draw controls.
 
Gettysburg makes its Centennial Conference debut on Saturday, March 21, at Haverford College beginning at 1 p.m.