Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Senior midfielder Ally Bradley (Jamison, Pa./Central Bucks South) scored the winning goal in sudden death overtime to give Susquehanna's field hockey team a 4-3, 2012 season-opening victory against Dickinson Friday evening.

Freshman Emily Reich (Livingston, N.J. / Livingston) dribbled past a Red Devil (0-1) defender and found Bradley for the contest clincher 8:45 into the first overtime session.

SU (1-0) nabbed its first goal of the season, and first of the game, less than 15 minutes to the action. Nicole Solino (Madison, N.J/Madison) collected a ball from Bradley in front of the cage and put it past the Dickinson goalie for the 1-0 Susquehanna advantage.

Both sides ended the half with six shots on goal, although the Devils had 15 total shots to SU's five, but it was the Crusaders who held the 1-0 lead.

SU struck again with just under 14 minutes to play in the game when Gina Palazzi (Newfoundland, Pa./Wallenpaupack) scored her first collegiate goal off an assist from Bradley, prompting Dickinson to call a quick timeout after falling behind 2-1.

Solino added her second goal for the Crusaders at the 9:03 mark off a scramble in front of the Red Devils' cage for a 3-1 SU lead. Unfortunately, barely four minutes later Dickinson scored off a penalty corner to get within one goal of the lead at 3-2.

As time wound down, it seemed the Crusaders had all but clinched a season-opening victory before the Red Devils connected on a penalty corner at the 0:00 mark of regulation, tying the game at three and forcing extra time.

Goalkeeper Margaret Ruth (Lewisberry, Pa. / Northern) stopped 14 shots for Susquehanna.

The Crusaders are right back in action tomorrow as they travel to Albright for a 3:30 p.m. game.