Field Hockey

Delaware Valley 5, Widener University 4 (OT)

CHESTER (PA) - Sophomore Kristin Cottman scored her second goal of the game just 2:46 into overtime as the Delaware Valley College field hockey team ended its season on a winning note with a 5-4 victory at Widener University.

The Aggies, under third-year head coach Jenn Wolfgang, finished the 2002 campaign with a 6-13 record. Widener fell to 8-8 with the loss.

In the 7-on-7 overtime format, Cottman broke free and beat Pioneer goalkeeper Lisa Mohrmann for the unassisted tally and the game-winner. Cottman, who was second team all-Freedom Conference selection last year, finished her second season with six goals and five assists for 17 points. Her assists total led the team while the points total tied for team-high honors with freshman Tiffany LaRosa.

Delaware Valley jumped out to a 4-0, first-half lead by recording all four tallies in an 11-minute span. Sophomore Kelly Geissler opened things up with her second goal of the season with 23:19 left in the half and LaRosa followed three minutes later with her team-best seventh goal of the year.

2001 second team all-conference honoree Sara Astbury made it 3-0 with 15:37 left in the half as she notched her sixth goal of the year off an assist from Kelly Geissler. LaRosa then set up Cottman for her first goal of the game with 12:48 to go before intermission.

Widener scored once before halftime as Shannon Phelps found the back of the cage with seven minutes remaining. Phelps connected again in the second half as did Christina Blanco to make it a one-goal game. The Pioneers then tied it up with just 1:34 remaining as Ashley Guitarese scored an unassisted goal.

Both teams had 26 shots apiece. Senior goalkeeper Leigh Stiffler made 16 saves in her final game as an Aggie and, in the process, set a school single-season record for saves with 216.