Millersville University
4-5, 2-3
Shippensburg
4-6, 1-4
Geary scores OT winner as Millersville battles back from five-goal fourth quarter deficit
3/28/2026 3:42:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. — The defining moment of Millersville's comeback thriller came in overtime, when KC O'Neill delivered one of the biggest saves of her young career. With 3:35 remaining in the five‑minute overtime period, Shippensburg was awarded a free‑position attempt, and Beimsderfer Stadium fell silent. The whistle blew, and O'Neill, steady, confident, and locked in, turned away the shot that could have ended the game.
Reflecting on the moment, O'Neill said she had one of the best things a goalie can possess: confidence. "I had complete trust in my defense and just everyone out there on the field. I was very confident and steady, and I knew my defenders felt the same, so it was an impeccable feeling. I knew before they took that shot that we were going to get that ball back."
The Marauders did get the ball back, and with the offense poised to complete the comeback, it seemed like a guaranteed win, until it wasn't. Millersville's offense stalled, missing a free‑position shot and later firing another attempt stick‑side high as the shot clock expired. On the ensuing clear, freshman midfielder Addison Geary refused to let the opportunity slip away.
"I knew I had to get my mistake back for the team," Geary said. "We were riding Shippensburg crazy this whole game, and I knew that my teammates were going to have my back. When I saw that ball go up in the air, I went for it, I got the grab off it, and with the goalie out of position, I listened to my goalie, who tells me in practice all the time to fake high, finish low, and that is what I did. This team won this game for ourselves."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Millersville's overtime heroics were only possible because of a furious fourth‑quarter rally. Down 8–3 entering the final frame, the Marauders, who had struggled offensively all game, faced a five‑goal deficit. But Briana Gora, the team's most reliable scorer so far this season, ignited a run that changed the trajectory of a season that seemed destined to slip to 3–5 and 1–4 in the PSAC.
Gora scored the first of four unanswered goals, cutting the lead to one. Shannon Meder followed by slicing through the defense for another score. A minute later, Avery Weaber buried a shot as the shot clock expired, and less than a minute after that, Gora struck again for her fourth and final goal, making it a one‑goal game with 9:15 remaining.
When asked about the surge, Coach Hinkle said, "We just overall were composed, we knew we could chip away, we knew we had time to chip away, and it was just starting to play smart. Offensively, we started opening up lanes for one another, and defensively, we were just playing it safe, we were sitting back having slides for one another, locking down the cutters, and both sides just connected late in the game there, and it got the job done."
Shippensburg briefly halted the momentum with a goal thirty seconds later, but Meder responded again, cutting the lead back to one. From there, every possession carried enormous weight, with Millersville fighting to force overtime and Shippensburg trying to put the game away.
With under five minutes remaining, freshman midfielder Addison Geary delivered the tying goal, her second of the game, bringing the score even for the first time since the opening whistle. The final minutes of regulation were dominated by Shippensburg's pressure, but O'Neill stood tall, making two massive saves in the last two minutes to keep the game tied and force overtime.
What began as a game slipping away transformed into a defining moment for Millersville's season. A five‑goal comeback, clutch goaltending, and relentless effort from a young roster culminated in a win that showcased resilience, composure, and belief.
