Cedar Crest College Athletics

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College field hockey team defeated Gwynedd Mercy University, 2-1, in overtime in United East Conference play on Saturday at the FalconPlex. 

The contest also marked Senior Day as the program celebrated seniors Carly Piciullo (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial), Sydney Jeker (Sciota, Pa./Pleasant Valley), Courtney Gibbons (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), Reagan Ferst (Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton Area), and Shelby Heater (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton Area) in a special pregame ceremony. 

First-year Cheyenne Wynne (Philadelphia, Pa./Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) scored the overtime game-winning goal for the Falcons. Heater made seven saves as the Griffins put eight of its nine shots on goal.

Cedar Crest broke through at 5:08 of the first quarter, when first-year Carli Apgar (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area) scored off an assist from classmate Ava Hendricks (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg Area) for a 1-0 lead. Heater made an early save on sophomore Gianna Radcliffe (Harleysville, Pa.) before the Falcons generated three penalty corners and two shots in the quarter.

Cedar Crest kept Gwynedd Mercy off the board in a scoreless second stanza, with Heater saving shots from Radcliffe at 21:41 and 25:18. Earlier, Jeker and Hendricks put shots on goal, and the Falcons carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Cedar Crest absorbed a push by the Griffins in the third quarter, with Heater making three saves before sophomore Amanda Minteer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) scored at 36:27 to tie the game at 1-1. Earlier, sophomore Maddie Farace (Fairfield, Pa./Fairfield) put two shots on goal for the Falcons, both saved by junior Kelly Weaver (Flemington, N.J.). The Falcons earned a late penalty corner through Gibbons before the quarter ended.

The home team created the stronger push in the fourth quarter, earning three penalty corners and forcing Weaver into saves on shots by Hendricks and Ferst. Gwynedd Mercy's lone shot of the quarter came late, when Heater saved Radcliffe's attempt at 58:44. The quarter finished scoreless with the game at 1-1.

Wynne scored at 62:24 off Jeker's assist, and Cedar Crest finished off a 2-1 overtime win. 

For the Falcons, Wynne scored on her only shot and recorded the game-winning goal in overtime. Apgar added a goal on three shots, including one on goal. Jeker and Hendricks each tallied an assist, with Hendricks also recording three shots and two on goal. Heater finished with seven saves in 62:24 in goal.

For the Griffins, Minteer scored an unassisted goal on her only shot. Radcliffe put all four of her shots on goal. Weaver recorded six saves in 62:24 in goal.

Cedar Crest (4-9 overall, 1-4 United East) will remain at home to host St. Mary's College of Maryland Saturday, October 24 at 1:00 p.m., marking its Homecoming game. Gwynedd Mercy (0-14 overall, 0-4 United East) will next host Penn State Harrisburg on Wednesday, October 21 at 4:00 p.m.