Gettysburg, PA (August 31, 2024) - Gettysburg College (1-0) scored a put-back golden goal five minutes into overtime to break a 1-1 tie and take a 2-1 win over Alvernia University (0-1) in the season-opener on Saturday afternoon in non-conference field hockey action at Gettysburg.

Alvernia took the early 1-0 lead in the first quarter on a goal from Hailey Miller. Gettysburg evened it up at 1-1 late in the second half. Gettysburg came out of the halftime break and shut down Alvernia's offense - not allowing a shot through the remainder of regulation and overtime. But, Alvernia's defense stood strong until Gettysburg broke through in overtime after taking advantage of its fourth player-up opportunity of the game and scoring on a put-back goal.

How it Happened

• Alvernia was awarded the first corner opportunity of the game less than five minutes into the action. The first opportunity did not result in a goal, but did result in a second opportunity and Alvernia took advantage. Gianna DeGregory took the initial shot for Alvernia, but it was saved by the Gettysburg keeper. Hailey Miller gathered the rebound off the opposite post and fired a hard shot into the back of the net to give Alvernia the 1-0 advantage just 4:23 into the game.
• Alvernia had a few looks in the final two minutes of the first quarter, including an opportunity by Olivia Hess to tap in a pass behind a defender off the left post on a pass in from Kelsy McClintock, but the pass went a little long as Alvernia took the 1-0 lead into the second quarter.
• The Golden Wolves controlled the game for much of the first quarter, holding the 4-2 advantage in corners and 3-1 on shots on goal. But, it would be all Bullets the rest of the way.
• The Bullets threatened to tie it 1-1 on a corner two minutes into the second quarter, but Alvernia goalie Lexi Boettcher made back-to-back saves to keep the Bullets off the board.
• Both teams exchanged green cards and subsequent player-up opportunities midway through the second quarter. Alvernia, who had its opportunity first, did not get a shot off during the two-minute opportunity. Gettysburg maintained possession for most of its player-up opportunity. Alvernia's defense, behind Boettcher, held off two corner opportunities and four shots by the Bullets to keep Gettysburg off the board.
• The Bullets broke through in the final 75 seconds of the first half as Gettysburg's Jillian Somers got by multiple defenders and fired a shot just past the outstretched leg of Boettcher and inside the left post to tie the game at 1-1.
• Alvernia had two corner opportunities in the final minute of the second half, but it was unable to convert as the game went to the half tied at 1-1.
• Alvernia had an early player-up opportunity after a Gettysburg green card was issued one minute into the third quarter, but Gettysburg possessed the ball through the entirety of the two minutes. 
• The Bullets had another opportunity to break the 1-1 tie with five minutes remaining in the third quarter as Gettysburg was awarded a penalty stroke. But, the shot went high and wide as the game remained at 1-1.
• The game remained locked at 1-1 as the third quarter came to a close. The quarter belonged all to Gettysburg as the Bullets outshot Alvernia 3-0 and had three corner opportunities to Alvernia's zero. But, Alvernia's defense held strong as the game moved into the fourth tied at 1-1.
• Gettysburg continued to pepper Alvernia in the opening ten minutes off the half, but Alvernia continued to keep the game tied at 1-1.
• A yellow-card against Alvernia provided the Bullets with their third player-up opportunity of the game as Alvernia was forced to play player-down for nearly the entire final five minutes of regulation. Alvernia held off the Bullets once again as the game moved into seven vs. seven overtime. 
• Gettysburg was awarded its 17th penalty corner opportunity 43 seconds into overtime, but Boettcher and the defense once again held off the Bullets.
• Gettysburg had another fantastic opportunity 1v1 against Boettcher three minutes into overtime, but Boettcher made a fantastic save to keep the game tied.
• Alvernia was forced into a player-down opportunity for the fourth time overall as a third player was sent to the sideline with a yellow card. This time, the Bullets finally broke through just 24 seconds later as Gettysburg's Bella Bonazinga scored on a goal off her own rebound to give the Bullets a 2-1 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Lexi Boettcher recorded her fifth career game with double-digit saves as the senior finished the afternoon with ten saves.
• Ava Michael led Alvernia with three total shots, two on goal.
• Hailey Miller was Alvernia's lone goal-scorer

Of Note

• Alvernia was held without a shot for the final 35 minutes of the game.
• Gettysburg finished the game with 17 corner opportunities, but did not score on a single one. It is only the third time that Alvernia has allowed 17 corner opportunities in a game since 2018, but it is just the first time that Alvernia's defense did not allow a goal on a corner opportunity when giving that many up.

Up Next

• Alvernia hosts Muhlenberg for its home-opener on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. It will be Alvernia's first time playing Muhlenberg since 2016.