ADA, Ohio - On Saturday the Cougars (2-1) took on the Ohio Northern Polar Bears (3-2) and played a highly competitive game where the Cougars had to comeback from multiple multi-goal deficits. The Cougars were able to get the lead however as they fell 10-9 in overtime.


The Cougars entered play on Saturday looking to tie their longest winning streak to start a season at three. Through the first quarter, things were not looking good for the Cougars as they were shutout in a quarter for the first time all season falling behind 3-0 at the first break. The Cougars got right back in the game with two player advantage goals. Bella Walski-Rodriguez continued her electric start to her career scoring the Cougars first goal of the game and seventh of the season. She was followed by Madison Kata scoring her first career goal to cut the lead to just one. That would not last long as the Polar Bears got one back extending the lead to two. With just six seconds left in the half Campbell Murphy scored her first goal of the game and the second of the season for the first year. That made the halftime score 4-3 in favor of the Polar Bears.


The third quarter was controlled by Ohio Northern as they extended their lead back to a game high three less than five minutes into the second half. Reagan Fulcher then scored the first goal of her career to bring the lead back to two. The Cougars and Polar Bears traded goals after that with Marcella Valentine scoring her first goal of the day, and fifth of the season. The score after the third quarter was 8-5 in favor of Ohio Northern. The Cougars refused to go away however. Even after an early goal gave Ohio Northern their largest lead of the game at four, the Cougars answered back with a Sara Kaeshaeffer goal, her first of the game and seventh of the season to keep pace with fellow first year Walski-Rodriguez. That was followed by Campbell Murphy scoring her second goal of the day, her first career multi-goal game, to cut the lead to two with just over two minutes to play. It was then junior Rachel Luomala scoring her first career goal with less than two minutes to play in regulation. With just nine seconds remaining in regulation, Campbell Murphy completed her first career hat trick to send the game to overtime pulling the Cougars back from a four goal deficit just 12 minutes earlier. In overtime it just was not meant to be as the Polar Bears scored the game winner just under two minutes into overtime.


The Cougars were led offensively by Murphy who had three goals and seven draw controls. Kendall Foster was the only other Cougar with multiple points with two assists. Sofia Hoetzlein-Sirman led the Cougars with five ground balls while Sarah Holt led with three caused turnovers. Meghan Cuza-Berry made six saves in net.


The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday March 3rd, when they take on Marian in Clearwater, Florida at 9:45 AM.