PEPPER PIKE, Ohio - - Freshman Jesse French scored a season-high six goals, including the game-winner in double overtime as UVa-Wise claimed an 18-17 victory over Ursuline College Sunday afternoon.
Ursuline (8-7) scored the final five goals of regulation to force overtime at 17-17.
After a scoreless first overtime period, UVa-Wise (10-4) scored its first goal in nearly 25 minutes when French found the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
The Cavaliers started the game with a pair of goals in the opening 2:30 of action. Sophomore McKayla Grasham got UVa-Wise on the board with an unassisted goal just over a minute into the contest. Moments later junior Rachel Cole assisted on sophomore Emily Henneberry's goal to stake the visitors to a 2-0 lead.
Playing on its senior day, the Arrows would not go away easily as Cydney Bartlett and Anika Aberegg scored around goals by the Cavaliers' Sydney Steinberg and Catherine Dina to keep the deficit at two goals.
French scored the first of her game-high six goals to give UVa-Wise its biggest lead of the first half at 5-2 with 20:17 to play in the opening half only to see Ursuline score five straight goals to take a 7-5 lead.
Back-to-back goals by Henneberry and French tied the game at 7-7 before a woman-up goal by Cole gave the Cavs the lead back at 8-7 with 5:59 remaining in the first half.
After Ursuline tied the game on a Michaela Riley goal, UVa-Wise would score three of the final four goals of the first half to take an 11-9 lead to intermission.
Meghan Dennehy's team would come out with a flurry to begin the second half by scoring three of the first four goals of the period. Steinberg scored a woman-up goal before later adding an unassisted goal in the stretch.
The Cavs would eventually push the lead to as high as 16-11 on a goal by Dina off a Steinberg assist with 23:37 to play.
After Haley Mazreku scored to cut the lead to four, Steinberg scored the last goal of regulation for UVa-Wise at the 20:49 mark to take a 17-12 advantage.
The remainder of regulation belonged to the Arrows as the hosts scored five consecutive goals in their home finale to force overtime.
Henneberry would get a shot in the extra period for the Cavs but would be unable to score, forcing the second extra session.
After McKayla Grasham won the draw control, UVa-Wise was able to earn a free position attempt less than minute into the second overtime. After not taking the free position shot, French scored the game winner unassisted to secure the program's second consecutive 10-win campaign.
Steinberg added a season-high five goals as part of a seven-point day in the win.
Dennehy's team will finish out the regular season with a pair of games at home next week, beginning with a league tilt against West Virginia Wesleyan College at 6 p.m.
