Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - Jessika Mancino scored the game-winning goal with 3:17 left in the second sudden victory period off a pass from Mollie Ruben to lead Franklin & Marshall past Alvernia 2-1 in non-conference field hockey action.

Mancino buried her shot just a few feet from the cage, finishing the ball sent in from the right side by Ruben to collect her second overtime game winner for the Diplomats (3-4). Eileen O'Reilly also scored for F&M and Jen Burdo turned away 10 of the 17 shots taken by the Crusaders (4-3-1).

Playing with seven players on the field in overtime, F&M kept the ball in the offensive half for the majority of the 26 extra minutes played and managed to get the sudden-victory goal to escape with its third win.

The Diplomats brought on the pressure in the second half and it carried into the extra periods, holding a 12-7 shot advantage and 3-1 edge in penalty corners.  

Katy Eby wasted little time getting Alvernia a 1-0 lead, scoring in the first four minutes of the game on an assist from Christy Yousaitis.

In the 48^th minute, Ruben hit the ball into the center of the circle off a restart and O'Reilly scored off her own rebounded shot to make it 1-all. She had a chance to give F&M the lead with 19:10 left in the second half, but her shot hit the inside of Abby Eby's pads to halt the breakaway opportunity.

Both teams had chances in overtime, with Eby making the save on another O'Reilly shot and Burdo stopping Samantha Landis' shot with 4:18 left to play in the second overtime.

The statistics were dead even on shots (17-for-17) and penalty corners (10-for-10). Tonya Rutt aided in keeping the Diplomats to just one goal in regulation by making two defensive saves for the Crusaders. 

F&M returns to action on Friday at Washington. Game time is 7 p.m.