SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Field Hockey senior Ashlyn Cave picked the perfect time to score her first collegiate goal, netting the overtime winner in a 1-0 decision against Slippery Rock on the road Friday night.
 
From the off, FSU had the bulk of possession, leading to a chance within the first five minutes as junior Macy Layfield had a shooting chance, which she put wide. Just over a minute later, Layfield fired off another shot, but had it blocked before getting close to goal, then sophomore Paige Leitzel saw the same fate just over eight minutes into the frame.
 
The Bobcats were able to win a couple of penalty corners late on in the quarter, but couldn't find the back of the net, as Leitzel again was denied by a defensive block. SRU grew their way into the game, winning a late penalty corner. After preventing Frostburg from clearing the ball, Hilary Hoffman put a shot on goal, but sophomore Zoe Barnes was there to make the kick save and keep the score at 0-0 at the end of one.
 
As the second period began, the same pattern of play that started the game unfolded, with the Bobcats on the front foot. Layfield put FSU's first shot on target, which was saved by Grace Burker in goal. Junior Femke Hofkamp then blasted a near-post shot from which Burker was well-placed to keep the ball out. The Rock were able to counter on a couple occasions, but never were able to get a shot off, as neither side generated much offense for the rest of the half.
 
Slippery Rock came out a team transformed to start the second half, winning an early penalty corner and controlling much of the possession. Frostburg was forced to defend and did so capably for much of the period, with Barnes not having to make a save. Still SRU pressed on, winning a pair of corners in the final five minutes, but the Bobcat defense locked down, holding the hosts off the board headed to the fourth.
 
With a high-intensity game, legs began to get tired and more fouls were committed, as three yellow cards were shown within the first four minutes of the final quarter. Slippery Rock was able to take advantage, earning a corner and firing off a shot that went just wide of Barnes' goal. On a wonderfully-worked counter-attack, Frostburg moved the ball quickly up the field, where Hofkamp was eventually found with acres of space in the arc, but her shot went agonizingly wide with Burker stranded in net.
 
FSU kept the momentum up in search of a winner, as Leitzel again had her shot blocked, then after a corner, Burker made a kick save to keep her team in the game. Hofkamp had the shot of the game off another corner, but Burker was equal to it with her best save yet, diving to her right to keep the ball out. Once more, Hofkamp rocketed a shot from the top of the arc, this time hitting the post and cannoning out before again being denied by Burker just seconds later. With time ticking down, Leitzel was the one to shoot next, but her effort went well high of the net, as FSU denied Slippery Rock's late counter, taking the contest to overtime.
 
As each team played with a couple less players, the game became stretched, at first in favor of The Rock. From the whistle, the hosts looked to send their fans home with an early goal, but Barnes stole the show, making four saves in the first three minutes to preserve her shutout bid. Frostburg finally got a hold in the extra period, with senior Emilie Bonhivert coming close on a shot that went just wide of the post. Finally, with penalty strokes looming, Cave stepped into midfield, winning the ball back and driving forward, unleashing a shot just inside the arc that took a flick off Burker and into the back of the cage to finish the game at 1-0 Bobcats.
 
FSU out-shot SRU 15-6, with seven shots on goal to the hosts' five. Barnes was outstanding in net, making five saves to earn her second consecutive shutout. The three wins to begin the season is the best start for the program since 2005, when that team won their opening five contests.
 
With the victory, Frostburg improves to 3-0 overall, while Slippery Rock falls to 1-2. The Bobcats continue their early-season road trip on Sunday, September 10 to face Pace at 12 p.m. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.