Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Ursuline’s field hockey team entered its regular-season finale on Nov. 1 trending in the wrong direction. The Raiders had lost three straight, and with a postseason berth likely coming this weekend, they could ill afford another setback.
It wasn’t easy, but the Raiders got the win they needed. Juliana Copeman scored with 4:14 to go in overtime to give her team a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Offense was at a premium throughout the contest, particularly in the first half. Ursuline finished with just eight shots, while the Force had five. The Raiders also had the edge in penalty corners, six to four.
The Force controlled possession throughout much of the first half following an early corner for the Raiders. Charter had two opportunities on penalty corners, but nothing came of them. Ursuline had a few chances. A shot by Jane Lyons was deflected wide, and Force goalkeeper Mary Fox rejected a chance off the stick of Caroline Taylor. Charter did not get any shots on Raiders keeper Cleo Troy.
The second half began with a shot by Charter’s Elyse Lamey, but it was just wide left. Copeman then missed wide right for Ursuline. Teddie Elliman nearly gave the Raiders the lead midway through the second half, but her shot off a Jordan Kenney pass went over the cage.
Troy and Fox both made a few key saves to send the game to overtime, when Copeman was finally able to put a score on the board.
Ursuline finished the regular season at 10-5 and will find out its postseason fate this weekend when the Division II bracket is announced. Charter ended its campaign with a 4-7-4 mark.
