LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Melanie Beall scored with just three seconds remaining in regulation to send the Lock Haven field hockey team to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Rider on Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Smith Field as part of Homecoming Weekend.
 
The dramatic victory moved Lock Haven to 4-6 on the season and provided a memorable finish to The Haven's eight-game homestand.
 
With the game deadlocked at 2-2 and overtime looming, Lock Haven earned a penalty corner with 12 seconds remaining. The Bald Eagles capitalized in stunning fashion as Beall found the back of the cage at the 59:57 mark off assists from Maddie Friend and Rylee Wassmer, setting off a celebration at Charlotte Smith Field.
 
The game-winner capped a back-and-forth battle that saw Lock Haven take the lead three different times.
 
The Bald Eagles struck first in the opening quarter when Aubrey Richards opened the scoring at the 9:48 mark. Friend set up Richards for the goal, giving The Haven an early 1-0 advantage.
Rider answered in the second quarter as Liv Cox scored at 22:05 to send the contest into halftime tied at 1-1.
 
Lock Haven regained the lead midway through the third quarter. After Friend put a shot on goal, Maggie Moylan jumped on the opportunity and buried the rebound at 37:22 to put the Bald Eagles back in front, 2-1.
 
The Broncs again found an answer, however, as Ang Borisow scored with 1:33 remaining in the third quarter to level the match at 2-2 and set the stage for the dramatic finish.
 
Neither side could break through for much of the fourth quarter, and goalkeeper Quinty van Luijk came up with several key stops to keep Rider off the board. The Haven defense weathered a late push before the Bald Eagles earned their final penalty corner in the closing seconds.
 
Beall made sure overtime wouldn't be necessary.
 
Friend played a hand in all three Lock Haven goals, finishing with two assists while helping spark a Bald Eagle attack that held a 13-12 advantage in shots and a commanding 11-5 edge in penalty corners.
 
Moylan led The Haven with four shots, including three on goal, while Beall finished with two shots on target. Richards added the opening goal.
 
Van Luijk turned away seven Rider shots during the full 60 minutes to earn the victory in goal.
 
The victory capped an eight-game homestand for Lock Haven and sent the Bald Eagles out of Charlotte Smith Field in dramatic fashion on Homecoming Weekend.
 
Next up for The Haven:
The Bald Eagles hit the road for the first time in over a month and will visit VCU for a 3 p.m. Atlantic-10 game.