Field hockey upsets No. 8 Ursinus with 4-1 win
Sophomore Kristen Olenick has scored six goals in the first five games of the Bullets’ 2012 season. Olenick attempted a seventh goal on Saturday against Ur sinus College, but her shot was not counted due to a penalty.
By Pete Barrett, Staff Writer
After losing to Ursinus College as a first-year, Senior Megan Feeg walked directly from the bench to the stands and said to her parents, “I want to beat them [before I graduate].”
Ever since, it hads become the 5-foot- 6-inch, curly-haired goal-keeper’s personal goal.
Feeg circled the Ursinus matchup on her College-issued student planner each year, only to see the Bullets fall in defeat.
On Saturday, the Lady Bullets ended their 33-game losing streak to the Bears with a 4-1 victory at Shirk Field.
“I am in shock. I am so proud of the way that we played,” Feeg said after the game with tear droplets visible in her eyes. Feeg had six saves in the win.
The Bullets turned three Ursinus penalties into goals in the first thirty-five minute half of Saturday’s contest.
“We practice corners [the result of a penalty] all the time and for [our corners] to be as effective as they were felt great,” said Sophomore Kristen Olenick after the game.
Olenick scored six goals in the Bullets’ first five games, but she was less aggressive Saturday, attempting only one shot, which was not counted because of a penalty.
“There are games I’ll lead, but other times I’ll step back and take direction from everyone else. It’s just how a team works,” Olenick said.
This time, Olenick watched the upperclassman take control of the upset that ended the 52-year drought as Juniors Hayward Sawers and Liz Baron each had a goal and Senior Kelly Madden scored a career-high two goals.
Ursinus graduated all four of their All-Centennial Conference selections from last year, but still ranked eighth in all of Division III field hockey prior to the game.
“We knew that the only way we would be able to [beat them] is if we played together as a team and stayed composed from start to finish,” said Head Coach Barb Jordan.
Ursinus plays a passing game, which played well into the Bullets defensive scheme. Gettysburg is known for their aggressiveness and willingness to take chances for a take-away.
“We were proactive,” Feeg said. “Instead of focusing on how Ursinus plays and what to expect, we focused on how we want[ed] to play.”
From the opening hit, the Bullets controlled the tempo of the game.
Saturday was a bounce-back win for the Bullets who started the season 4-0, but were shut out by No. 7 Catholic University last Tuesday.
The Bullets (5-1 1-0 CC) will face two other ranked opponents in the coming weeks, No. 9 Franklin and Marshall and No. 15 Haverford.
Beginning conference play with a win against the predicted favorite opens the possibility of winning a conference title.
“Winning is great, but it is the people you share the victories with that matter. We will always have this moment to share and to encourage one another,” Feeg said.
