WILMINGTON — Ursuline trailed Tatnall, 2-0, heading into the fourth quarter of their DIAA Division II first-round matchup on Oct. 29 at Serviam Field. The fifth-seeded Raiders had opportunities but had not gotten too many shots at Hornets goalie Mosso Sirotinin-Remmel, but they kept plugging as the final 15 minutes began.
Their persistence paid off. The Raiders scored twice in the fourth to send the game to overtime, and Sammie Weinert knocked in the winner with 4:41 remaining in overtime to give Ursuline a hard-fought 3-2 win over the No. 12 Hornets.
The Raiders advance to the quarterfinals. They will travel to Archmere, the fourth seed, on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Tatnall held off three Raiders penalty corners in the first quarter, then took advantatge of their corner opportunity early in the second for the game’s first goal. Emily Sullivan sent a shot high over Ursuline goalie Georgia Rassias with 12:10 remaining in the half to make it 1-0.
Play was fairly even through the remainder of the half. The Raiders did get a shot on Sirotinin-Remmel with approximately five minutes left in the half, but she turned the chance away.
Madelyn Farwell, who picked up an assist on Tatnall’s first goal, doubled the lead with 2:54 to go in the third. One of the Raiders made a defensive save on a Hornets shot, but Farwell sent in a rebound.
The Raiders turned up the pressure as the fourth quarter unfolded. They had two early corner opportunities, and, finally, they were able to solve the Hornets’ defense. Kendall Gulli (St. Ann Parish) took a pass from Weinert and found a hole on the left side of the cage with 12:19 on the clock.
“Just don’t give up after they score,” Gulli said of the Raiders’ mindset heading into the fourth.
Kassias came up with a big save midway through the quarter to keep Ursuline’s hopes alive, and the Raiders had the better of the possession, generating several chances. On a penalty corner and with the Hornets shorthanded after a penalty, Weinert (St. Mary Magdalen Parish) whacked a backhand after a scramble in front and tied the score with 4:48 left on the clock.
Tatnall earned two corners late in regulation, and Ursuline had one as time expired. Their shot on that one went wide left, sending the contest to sudden death.
Kassias kept the Raiders alive in the first minute of the extra session, stopping three Tatnall shots. The Raiders settled down and got their offense in gear. Sirotinin-Remmel made a save on a penalty corner, but Ursuline earned another corner. Sirotinin-Remmel was outstanding, turning away shot after shot as the Raiders whacked away, but, finally, Weinert found some daylight and netted the winner.
“My nerves were so high,” Weinert said. “It was back and forth, like ping pong. I just saw my opportunity and took it. It was so relieving because we were down the entire time.”
Ursuline finished with a nine shots to the Hornets’ seven, along with a 13-11 advantage in penalty corners. Kassias had seven saves. Ursuline improved to 12-4. Tickets for their game at Archmere are available at www.gofan.co/app/school/DIAA and must be purchased online.
Sirotinin-Remmel made eight saves for the Hornets, who finished the season 7-9.
Photos by Mike Lang.
