LYNCHBURG, VA. - Susquehanna field hockey's incredible 2024 season met its end on Wednesday, nearly pulling off a NCAA Division III Tournament first-round win at #13 Lynchburg. The River Hawks were in contention as they held a 1-0 second-quarter lead on the heels of a Taylor Rothermel goal, assisted by Emma Campitelli. The Hornets tied the game in the middle of the fourth quarter, forcing overtime. While both teams had a fair share of chances in the extra period, it was Lynchburg that capitalized on a penalty corner for the sudden-victory goal to end SU's season with a 15-6 overall mark.

The game marked the second year in a row that Landmark-champion Susquehanna's NCAA First Round fate was decided in overtime. Lynchburg, this year's ODAC finalists, marked its second victory over the River Hawks following a 3-1 win at Sassafras Field back on Sept. 29. Going into October Susquehanna went on a tear, winning all but two of their remaining contests, while completing the first unbeaten conference regular season in school history with a 9-0 Landmark record. With home field advantage for the conference tournament Susquehanna handled Moravian 2-0 in the league semifinals, then rallied from a 2-0 fourth quarter deficit to defeat Scranton 3-2 for the championship. They headed to Lynchburg carrying a seven-game win streak.

The magnificent goalkeeping of Ashley Derrick brought Susquehanna to the doorstep of victory, with the senior gathering many high-profile saves in a four-save day. The Hornets were handed ten penalty corner chances, with just the one in overtime that called game, while Susquehanna had three, all coming in the first quarter. Overall Lynchburg led in shots, 10-5, including 6-4 in shots on goal. SU's defense complemented Derrick's performance with one defensive save, coming from Lydia Hidlay. 

Susquehanna got on the board first at the 17:18-mark as Emma Campitelli found Taylor Rothermel in front of the cage, who slid it past the keeper to take the advantage for the River Hawks. There were just six shots combined between the two sides in the first 30 minutes of action for what turned out to be a defensive battle. Lynchburg was held to just two shots in the first half and Susquehanna fired off four shots in the same time frame. With under eight minutes left in the game, the Hornets got an opportunity as Megan Stiffler sent a long ball to Madison Mark. Upon gathering a ball with her back facing the goal, she immediately turned and fired a shot that found the back of the cage. In overtime Susquehanna had an opportunity with Ashley Schreffler on a one-on-one opportunity with Hornets goalie Shay Schoones. As Schreffler attempted to move past Schoones, the two became entangled while reaching for the ball and the ball dribbled down the end line. Just over five minutes into the overtime period, UL junior Danielle Coon injected a penalty corner to Khanyisile Mzizi, who made a move past her defender, and fired it between the pipes to give the Hornets the victory.

Lynchburg carries on to Saturday's NCAA second round game at #1 Salisbury. Susquehanna, meanwhile, heads back to Selinsgrove with another Landmark banner and 15-win season, their third in as many years. This latest chapter of the Allison Fordyce era marks a significant one for the program as a formidable presence in the Landmark and the Mid-Atlantic Region, with 91 total wins over the last eight competitive seasons with Fordyce at the helm. The River Hawks have claimed three Landmark titles between 2018, 2023, and 2024, while their 16 wins in 2021 marked the most for the program since the 2002 edition captured 17 victories. Susquehanna now has six NCAA Tournament appearances under their belt: 1993, 1999, 2002, 2018, 2023, and 2024.