Millersville, Pennsylvania - It took a full 100 minutes, but finally, after placing 19 shots on goal, Millersville's
Olivia Hershey found the back of the net to give the Marauders a 1-0 double overtime victory over No. 4 Kutztown.
As the final seconds ticked away in double OT, Hershey earned a corner to give Millersville one final chance--with time expired--to score before going to a shoot out. After 16 corners resulting in zero goals,
Margaret Thorwart sent in Millersville's 17th corner, and what resulted was the first and only goal of the game. Â
"I knew Margo (Thorwart) had it," said Hershey, "I had 100 percent confidence in her."
The goal was Hershey's first of the season, in what was her first game back from an injury.
"I was really happy for her," said coach
Shelly Behrens, "I was glad to see her return like this."
Before that shot however, Millersville's inability to score on corners was the storyline of the game, as well as the stellar play of Kutztown goalkeeper, Chardonnay Hope. Hope faced 20 shots on goal, saving the first 19 including multiple game-saving saves. In the first overtime period,
Vanessa Schneider nearly tipped in a would-be winning goal off of Hershey's shot, just missing the goal. Moments later, Hershey had a great look from six yards out, but was once again thwarted by Hope.
"I think we did a lot of good today, KU's a good team," said Behrens. "We want to see where we are against the best."
Millersville outshot Kutztown 26-8, and even more impressively, the Marauders led in shots on goal 20-1. Kutztown's scoring chances came in double overtime, including a two-on-one in the 91st minute that
Taylor Parker broke up. Millersville has only given up one goal in the last 10 regular season home games, spanning back to last season, and this is the team's fourth shutout in the five games this season.
Millersville improved to 4-1 with the win, and Kutztown fell to 4-1.
The Marauders will take on West Chester at home on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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