ESU vs. Saint Anselm - Full Replay | 2019 NCAA DII Field Hockey Semifinals Recap (Video) | ESU Postgame Press Conference (Youtube)

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The bid for a second national championship in program history fell short for the East Stroudsburg University women's field hockey team on Friday as the Saint Anselm Hawks recorded a 1-0 victory in double overtime in the 2019 NCAA DII Field Hockey Semifinals.
 
ESU (19-3) saw its five-match winning streak come to a halt against the Hawks as Emily Bevens scored her first goal of the season off a penalty stroke in the second overtime to send Saint Anselm to the title match on Sunday against West Chester.
 
The Warriors matched their most wins in a single season in program history and allowed just nine goals while scoring 62 goals and averaging 2.82 goals per contest. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Richie capped a stellar career for the Warriors as she tallied 19 victories on the season and allowed just seven goals while generating a 0.32 goals-against average.
 
Senior Emily Spangler finished the contest with a pair of shots on goal for ESU, while freshman Maddie Kline recorded the other shot on goal for the Warriors. Richie registered three saves in net for the Warriors, while sophomore Hannah Barbush was credited with a defensive save.
 
Spangler recorded the first shot on goal for either side as her attempt at the 8:44 mark of the first period would be denied by Saint Anselm goalkeeper Julia Hand. The other shot on goal in the first half would come off the stick of Saint Anselm's Ericka Meissner at the 28:32 mark of the second quarter. Richie denied the opportunity by Meissner to keep the game scoreless heading into the half.
 
The Warriors recorded their second shot on frame in the third quarter as Spangler looked to score off a penalty corner at the 37:35 mark, only to have Hand deny another opportunity. The Warriors had their third opportunity of the contest just five minutes into the fourth quarter as Kline tried to beat Hand on a 2-on-1 breakaway for ESU. Hand would stand tall in net for the Hawks to deny the scoring chance.
 
The contest would go to overtime as neither side was able to find the back of the net during 60 minutes of regulation play. The first 10-minute overtime session would be played without a shot on frame as both teams prepared for a second overtime frame.
 
Saint Anselm tallied consecutive shots following a penalty corner at the 71:07 mark of the second overtime and would be awarded a penalty stroke on their third chance against the Warriors.
 
Bevens would sub into the contest for Hannah Friend, who took the shot that led to the penalty stroke opportunity. Bevens beat Richie low and to the left side of the cage to send the Hawks to the next round and a meeting with West Chester for a national championship matchup.