EWING, N.J. – In a back-and-forth double overtime thriller, the No. 19 TCNJ field hockey team narrowly fell, 3-2, on senior day to Gettysburg on Wednesday afternoon.

A pair of goals from Rayhanah Ahmed and Carly Cole proved not enough as the Lions (10-6) lost a heartbreaker in the waning minutes of double overtime to the Bullets (6-9). Starting the first half at goalie and recording a save, senior Saige Berkowicz was honored postgame for the annual senior day celebrations.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ahmed struck first for TCNJ in the 13th minute of the first period after driving through a crowd of Gettysburg defenders off a Cole pass for her 11th goal of the season in solo fashion.
• After a scoreless second quarter, the Lions once again found the back of the cage 6:43 into the third as Cole notched the insurance goal in transition off a pinpoint pass up the left side from Ahmed to put the Lions up 2-0.
• The Bullets broke TCNJ's shutout late in the quarter on a tip-in goal from Gaby Markunas, slashing the Lions' lead in half and beginning their second half rally.
• Gettysburg scored the equalizer five minutes into the fourth after capitalizing on a penalty corner, which ultimately sent the game into overtime.
• The Lions began the first 7-on-7 overtime period with a ferocious attack, racking up 11 shots and four penalty corners as a team as the blue and gold relentlessly pressured the Gettysburg defense. However, stellar goalkeeping from the Bullets' Emilia Saccento (seven saves in the period), kept the offense just off the board.
• The second overtime period saw the Lions once again aggressively try to put the game away by recording a pair of shots and penalty corners. However, an untimely score from Bella Bonazinga with four minutes left completed Gettysburg's comeback.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Freshman Taylor Wielechowski made stellar defensive plays throughout overtime, intercepting multiple downfield passes from Gettysburg to keep the Lions away from danger
• Sophomore Emily Dvorsky recorded her fourth defensive save on the season.
• Ahmed finished with seven of her ten shots on goal
• Cole ended the game with five shots, three being on goal
• Bella DiNardo recorded six shots, with two on goal

NOTES

• The game marked TCNJ's third overtime game of the season, and second that ended in double overtime.
• TCNJ outshot Gettysburg 13-to-3 in the two overtime periods.

UP NEXT
TCNJ wraps up the regular season and NJAC play on Saturday on the road at Montclair State. With a win, the Lions will secure the Conference Regular Season Championship and secure homefield throughout the NJAC Tournament. The start time is scheduled for noon.