Box Score
(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson field hockey team put quite a scare into visiting Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, and it had nothing to do with Halloween. The Red Devils came out strong after celebrating senior day and put the first two goals of the game on board.
The Diplomats, ranked fifth in the nation, seemed to have no answer for the Devils in the first half. They would rally in the end, however, but not after Dickinson forced overtime with the only unbeaten team in the Centennial Conference.
Senior Tanya Bellingham (Alexandria, Va./Annandale) blasted a shot into the back of the cage to put Dickinson in front, 14:24 into the game. The Devils doubled the lead in the 31st minute as sophomore Natalie Polk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) fed a great ball into the circle for first-year Alyssa Stillwell (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) who rattled the cage for a 2-0 advantage.
The Devils held on into the break, playing one of their best halves of the season. The Diplomats answered in the 42nd minute and again, six minutes later to tie the game. Maura Hennigan scored a pair of unassisted goals to force the extra frame.
The Diplomats spoiled the upset effort with 7:23 remaining in the first overtime for a 3-2 win. Kristen Zublin connected with Chelsey Talhelm for the game-winner to finish unbeaten in the CC regular season.
Avery Koep made five saves for F&M as they improve to 16-1 overall and 10-0 in the conference.
Junior goaltender Katy Schlechtweg (Mount Laurel, N.J./Moorestown Friends) turned in an outstanding performance. She turned away eight shots on the day. Sophomore Fallon Winters (Spring Lake, N.J./Northfield Mount Hermon) made a huge defensive save in the second half as well.
F&M held a slim 16-12 advantage in shots and forced 10 corners, seven in the second half, while the Devils forced five.
The Red Devils finish 7-11 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
