ESU Senior Ends Regular Season in Dramatic Fashion: Karly Conway Scores Game-Winning Goal in Overtime

Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki The Lady Warriors had a close game against the Millersville Marauders that ended on a lates goal in overtime by senior Karly Conway.

Ronald Hanaki

Staff Writer

Senior Karly Conway scored the golden goal in overtime to lift No. 2 ESU Field Hockey past the Millersville University Marauders 1-0 on Oct. 30. It was the team’s ninth victory in 10 games and their final game of the regular season. 

ESU is the second seed in the PSAC Tournament. They received an opening-round bye due to their impressive regular-season record. As a result, they will play the winner of the quarterfinal game between Shippensburg University and Millersville University in the semifinal game at West Chester University tomorrow at 4 p.m.

The game against Millersville was highly competitive and the Marauders had the only shot in the first quarter. However, their offensive advantage was short-lived.

ESU would outshoot Millersville 19-2 for the game.

Despite the shot disparity on the stats sheet, goals were hard to come by. 

This was because Millersville junior goalkeeper Autumn Peters had a noteworthy performance. Peters had 11 saves for the game including five saves in the third quarter alone. 

With the score tied 0-0 at the end of regulation, the game went into overtime. 

Six minutes into overtime, ESU junior Jada Martin raced up from midfield and found Conway, who was standing alone only a few yards away from the goal. Peters then dove forward to stop the pass from reaching its destination, but Conway was able to strike the ball past Millersville’s goalkeeper for the only goal of the game. 

Martin talked about the play after the game. 

“I got the ball and knew I had to get to the goal. I saw only one person ahead of me, and I saw Karly. So I just handed her the ball,” Martin said. 

Conway was quick to credit Martin for the score. 

“The goal would not have happened without Jada Martin’s pass. It was a great pass to my stick,” Conway said. “And it doesn’t take just one person. It is the entire team starting from the backfield to the forwards. I just happened to be there to put it in.” 

Senior Maddie Richie had two saves in the shutout win. 

“The defense in front of me played really well today. We all connected really well, and it was a good win,” Richie said. 

Even in the loss, Millersville Field Hockey head coach Shelly Behrens thought that it was a highly competitive game. 

“I just think you saw two teams that brought out the best in each other,” Behrens said. “I think the talent on the field was really great. The people got to witness a really fun game, and the kids played their hearts out.” 

ESU Field Hockey head coach Sandy Miller was relieved to get the victory. 

“They gave us all that we can handle. They put a lot of people inside the circle. We were ready for that. But they are fifth in the region, and they had nothing to lose. They are really good,” Miller said. 

Miller was looking forward to the postseason. 

“This group of seniors will make NCAAs all four years. That is unbelievable and quite an achievement,” Miller said. 

The Warriors (16-2, 9-1) will play the winner of the PSAC Quarterfinal game between Shippensburg University (12-5, 8-2) and Millersville University (12-6, 4-6) tomorrow afternoon at West Chester University’s Vonnie Gros Field.

Email Ronald at 

rhanaki@live.esu.edu