Waleska, GA – On the first possession of overtime, Morgan Terpstra connected with Bella Ricchiazzi for the game-winning goal at the 2:21 mark to give the fifth-ranked Patriots a 17-16 win over second-ranked Reinhardt Wednesday afternoon.  The win extends the Patriots win streak to ten straight as UC improves to 11-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play, while the Eagles move to 8-4 overall and 4-1 against the AAC.

Olivia McCarrell made a season-high 17 saves, which is the fifth most in program history, to earn the win between the pipes.  The junior made ten saves in the first half to help UC take an early advantage. Koral Hadac scooped six draw controls and six ground balls in the game, while Emma Rittman, the reigning NAIA Defensive Player of the Week, tallied five draw controls and nine ground balls.  Christina Min scooped a season-high six ground balls and forced a turnover.

Offensively, Ricchiazzi lead the way with four goals and a pair of assists to go along with two ground balls in the win.  Anna Lobbezoo and Aleyah Belton finished with four goals apiece, while Terpstra tallied a goal and two assists. Reegan Hensley and Marisa Helsten chipped in two points apiece. 

The Patriots opened the game with a man-up goal from Ricchiazzi to even the score at 1-1.  McCarrell made four saves over a five minute span, while Belton and Helsten each added a goal to put Cumberlands in front 3-1 with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter.  Anna Lobbezoo added a late goal to give UC a 4-3 advantage after the opening period.

Cumberlands came out strong in the second quarter with four straight goals over a four minute span.  Hadac won the open draw control of the period and on that possession Belton put a well-placed shot into the corner of the goal to make it 5-3.  After another Patriot goal, Ricchiazzi and Hensley each added a goal extending the lead to 8-3 with 11:32 remaining.  Reinhardt cut the lead to 8-4 before Terpstra and Belton each added a goal to make it 10-4 in favor of UC midway through the quarter.   Reinhardt responded with five unanswered goals, however a save by McCarrell kept Cumberlands in front 10-9 at the break.

Reinhardt score two of first three goals in the third quarter to even the score at 11-11 with 8:03 remaining.  Ricchiazzi scooped a ground ball and on that possession converted a free position to put the Patriots in front 12-11.  Two minutes later, Helsten found Lobbezoo cutting towards the cage for her first of two straight goals giving the Patriots a 14-11 edge heading into the fourth quarter.

Hensley converted a man-down free position goal just over a minute into the fourth quarter to put UC in front 15-11.  Reinhardt netted three straight goals to pull within one before Rittman wins the draw control and runs a give-and-go with Ricchiazzi for a goal to put UC in front 16-14 with 4:29 remaining.  The Patriots tried to run out the clock, however, the Eagles forced a trio of late turnovers, including the equalizer with three seconds remaining to force overtime tied at 16-16.

Hadac won the open draw control of overtime to give the Patriots the possession. Moments later, Teprstra had possession along the eight-meter arc and found Ricchiazzi cutting in front of the cage.  The Framingham, MA took one step and fired a shot just inside the far post for the game-winning goal to give Cumberlands the 17-16 victory. 

It marks the second straight year the UC has beaten a team that was ranked in the top two of the NAIA Coaches' Poll.

Cumberlands returns home Saturday to host Truett McConnell in an AAC showdown.  The game is set for noon and the Patriots will honor their two seniors prior to the start of the game.

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