LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Bald Eagles tied the game late in regulation and rookie-standout Jazmin Palma (Entre Rios Province, Argentina./Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) stole the show in overtime, scoring on incredible effort, which powered the Lock Haven University field hockey team (4-4, 2-0 A-10) to a thrilling and important, 2-1 (OT), Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) win over perennial league power Richmond (5-4, 1-1 A-10).
 
The win came as the Bald Eagles opened Homecoming Weekend 2019.
 
Richmond entered the game on a two-game win streak, but the Bald Eagles' late game-heroics helped Lock Haven remain perfect in A-10 action at 2-0.
 
The visitors took the lead early in the game as Richmond led 1-0 after the opening quarter. Amanda DaSilva put UR up 1-0 9:09 into the match and that lead held until late.
 
With less than seven minutes to play in regulation, the Bald Eagles took advantage of a late-game penalty corner. After the initial penalty corner attempt from Lock haven was slowed, MacKenzie Farley (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) provided the game-tying tally for Lock Haven.
 
Farley was in a perfect position to redirect an Amy Stevens (Castle Creek, N.Y./Whitney Point) shot past Richmond goalkeeper Frankie Conklin at the 53:51 mark.
 
Early in overtime, Palma took over the game. She collected a loose ball at midfield and with just one hand on the stick, she darted by and through the Richmond defense and into the crease where she was able to rocket a low shot to the left of Conklin who was leaving her line to challenge.
 
Palma's thrilling goal, which came off her incredible individual effort, was tallied just 4:02 into OT. It marked her team-best third goal of the season.
 
LHU goalkeeper Joaquina Orlandini (Concordi, Entre Rios, Argentina/San Antonio School) made two important saves in the winning effort.
 
Overall, Lock Haven outshot Richmond 10-5 after turning up the pressure in the second half. The Spiders held a 7-3 advantage in corners.
 
Both Kayla Brathwaite (Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago/Bishop Anstey East) and Karina Long (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) played a huge role in a sensational defensive effort from Lock Haven.
 
Stevens was strong throughout and her assist on the game-tying mark proved to be a reward for the outstanding effort. Palma, the A-10 leader in shots, finished with a game-high four shots, as she continues to be a major different maker for LHU.
 
 
Up next:
Today's league-match with Richmond marked the first of two contests at home this weekend on LHU's 2019 Homecoming Weekend. LHU will cap Homecoming Weekend 2019 with a home non-conference contest vs. Long Island on Sunday, September 29 at 1 p.m. on Charlotte Smith Field.