GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Dickinson College moved one step closer to a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs while putting Gettysburg College's season on the brink with a 3-2 decision in overtime at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium on Friday.
 
Gettysburg (7-9, 5-5 CC) and Dickinson (10-7, 5-5 CC) are tied for the fifth and final playoff spot and await the outcomes of two conference games still to be played this weekend. Muhlenberg College (6-9, 4-5 CC) hosts Washington College at 7 p.m. Friday night, while Haverford College (9-7, 4-5 CC) hosts Swarthmore College (7-9, 2-7 CC) Saturday afternoon. Both Muhlenberg and Haverford could tie the Bullets and Red Devils for the final spot, creating several tiebreaker scenarios. Gettysburg can secure a postseason berth with a victory by Haverford and a loss by Muhlenberg.
 
The Bullets struck first against the Red Devils as senior Jamie Relin (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Central) hit the loose ball into the back of the cage for her third goal of the year at 9:07.
 
Dickinson answered 10 minutes later with a penalty stroke by Amber Dey. Dey scorched a shot off the back of the cage for her sixth goal of the year at 19:47.
 
Despite out-shooting the hosts 9-2 in the first half, the Red Devils were unable to punch another tally. Junior defender Brooke Matthews (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) stopped one attempt with her ninth defensive save of the season at the beginning of the second half, but Dickinson drew a penalty stroke just a few seconds later. Senior goalie Haley Mowery (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Northern) swatted away the ensuing stroke attempt by Marie Leverdiere to preserve the deadlock.
 
Gettysburg took control 12 minutes into the second half when freshman Megan Kratz (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) fired a cross in front. Senior Lindsay Kraus (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll School) redirected the ball into the cage for her third goal.
 
Mowery came up with a save on a shot by Maddie Dombroski in the 54th minute, but the Red Devils regained possession and an attempt by Lily Mott was tipped into the cage by Dombroski to tie the game.
 
Dickinson goalie Freddie Bancroft turned in a clutch save on a penalty stroke by Kraus in the 64th minute, diving to her right to swat away the shot. Mowery added two more saves in the final three minutes to set up overtime.
 
Playing its program-record seventh overtime contest of the fall, Gettysburg went on the offensive early. Kratz posted a pair of shots with the second stopped by Bancroft.
 
Less than a minute after subbing into the game, Alex Bonser raced up the right side of the field with the ball and went straight to the goal. Bonser slipped a shot just past Mowery's left foot and inside the right post for the winning tally at 75:05.
 
Dickinson finished with a 22-8 edge in shots, while Gettysburg led in penalty corners 5-3.
 
Mowery finished with 10 saves and sits just two shy of the program's career record of 460 set by Kelli Agnew '93.
 
The opening round of the Centennial Conference Championship would take place Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Washington College. The semifinals and championship are scheduled for Nov. 4-5.