Rineer, Leitzel Tally Two Goals Each as Field Hockey Comes Back to Take Down Lander in Double Overtime

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Field Hockey team fought back to secure a double overtime victory on Sunday afternoon, taking down the Lander Bearcats at home by a final score of 4-3. 
 
Lander found themselves with the first crack at goal on the day, as sophomore defender Morgan Sparks came up big with a defensive save.  Around the eight minute mark of the first, Frostburg connected on their first try of the day, with sophomore Mikyla Rineer sending the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 Bobcat lead.  Both teams played around with the ball for the next minute, before the Bearcats were awarded a penalty corner, but were unable to get a shot off.  FSU then ran down field, taking the ball into their offensive half, resulting in a shot from junior Paige Leitzel that was blocked.  The Bobcats earned four corners to end the quarter, with FSU firing away five shots, all that was stopped by LU's defense. 
 
Both teams saw a slow start to the second quarter, until Frostburg kept the ball in their possession, picking up a penalty corner that was inserted by senior Olivia Wenzel.  Sophomore Brianne Macchia ripped a shot on target that was saved by the keeper, before Rineer was able to break the defense tallying another goal on the day to bring the score to 2-0 with nine minutes left in the half.  Each team picked up a few fouls to end the quarter, with both teams slowing down play, allowing the Bobcats to hold a 2-0 advantage at the break.
 
LU came out ready to score to start the third, with the Bearcats taking two shots to open the quarter, before getting their third shot to go in off a penalty corner to cut the score to 2-1.  Leitzel saw two shots of her own, both being turned away by the goalie, as senior Zoe Reading fired a shot off a rebound, that was also stopped before reaching the goal.  Back and forth play went on for the next couple of minutes, before Lander took the ball down field, taking a chance at goal that was stopped by graduate Ashlyn Cave, but the Bearcats were able to scoop the ball back up and slide it into the back of the net to tie things up at 2-2.  With everything going right for LU on offense, they took three more chances at goal, all that were denied by junior Zoe Barnes, but the Bearcats were able to knot their third goal of the quarter on their fourth attempt to take a 3-2 lead.  Cave and Rineer tried to tie thing up at three apiece before the quarter ended, but both their shots were stopped by the goalie, leaving LU ahead 3-2 heading into the fourth and final quarter. 
 
Reading looked to score to begin the fourth but sent her shot just wide.  FSU continued to dominate possession in the quarter, finding any chance they could get to try and knot a goal.  Leitzel took her chance wide, as Cave was denied by the goalie once again, this time off a penalty corner.  The Bearcats were able to regain possession, quickly giving the ball back to the Bobcats, as Frostburg allowed zero shots from Lander in the fourth.  As the buzzer sounded to end the game, FSU was awarded a penalty corner for their last chance to tie the game and force overtime.  Rineer went to insert the ball, sending it inside as Sparks was able to send the ball over to Leitzel, who lifted a shot up and over the goalie for a buzzer beater score to send the game into overtime with a 3-3 score. 
 
Lander looked to score right away as overtime started, dominating on their offensive half, sending a shot on goal in the first 25 seconds that was knocked away by Barnes.  The Bearcats were then awarded a penalty stroke, but a huge diving save from Barnes kept the game rolling with a 3-3 score.  Frostburg did everything possible to stay in the game, as Barnes picked up three more saves in goal, with Sparks earning a defensive save as well.  FSU struggled to keep possession, as LU continued to fire away shots at goal, but were unable to connect.  The Bobcats earned a corner with around four minutes left in the first overtime, but were unable to get anything out of it, sending the game into the second round of extra time. 
 
Both teams continued to look for a way to end the game in their favor, as they each traded a pair of fouls to start the second overtime.  Just over two minutes in, the Bobcats found an open opportunity down field, as FSU passed the ball around to put it at the stick of Leitzel, who shot the ball across the arch and into the net to capture the 4-3 double overtime victory for Frostburg. 
 
FSU held a slight advantage in both shots and corners with 19 and 11, compared to Lander's 18 and nine.  Rineer and Leitzel knotted two goals each, while Barnes came up huge with a whopping 12 saves in goal. 
 
With the win, Frostburg moves to 2-2 on the season, while Lander falls to 1-2.  The Bobcats next travel to St. Louis, Missouri to face Maryville at 1 PM on Saturday, September 21.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.