Wille Scores Game-Winner, Palasik Breaks Pair of Defensive Save Records in Win

GETTYSBURG, PA -- Sophomore midfielder Kristen Wille (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island) scored the game-winning goal with 3:58 left in the first overtime to give visiting Washington College a 2-1 overtime win over host Gettysburg in the Centennial Conference Field Hockey Tournament first round game this afternoon on Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium. Junior defender Brittany Palasik (Severna Park, MD/Archbishop Spalding) had two defensive saves in the game for the Shorewomen to break the Centennial Conference career record and unofficial NCAA Division III single-season record. 

The Shorewomen (9-9) scored the only goal of the first half when junior midfielder Gussie Reilly (Buck Hill Falls, PA/Mercersburg Academy) dribbled into the circle and sent a ball in front of the goal where sophomore attack Hillary Kane (Rhinebeck, NY/Millbrook School) knocked it in for the 1-0 lead. 

Palasik made her 20th defensive save of the season 45 seconds into the second half to tie the unofficial NCAA Division III record set by Taylor Harding of Virginia Wesleyan last year.  It was also the 28th defensive save of her career, tying the record set by Dickinson's Dina Pietrangelo from 1996 to 1999. Palasik then broke both records with her 21st of the season and 29th of her career with 10:15 remaining.  Gettysburg (9-9) was awarded a penalty corner soon thereafter as Alyssa Heimbach converted to make it 1-1 with 10:12 to play in regulation.

Wille's game-winner came after Gettysburg goalkeeper Megan Feeg saved a shot by junior attack Emily Trees (Kensington, MD/Connelly School of the Holy Child). The shot bounded back out into the circle and Wille lifted it up and into the goal for the win.

Senior goalkeeper Shannon Davis (Sykesville, MD/Liberty) made 12 saves for the Shorewomen in the victory, helping offset a 30-16 advantage in shots for Gettysburg.  The Bullets also held an 18-8 advantage in penalty corners. Feeg had four saves in the loss for the Bullets. 

This was just the fifth game of 37 all-time Centennial Conference Field Hockey Tournament games to go to overtime. The game was also the Shorewomen's first overtime win in five overtime games this season and their second win in nine one-goal games.

The Shorewomen will play top-seed and host Ursinus College in a Centennial Conference Semifinal game Saturday at 11:30 a.m.