LORETTO, Pa.- Junior forward Sammy Bell scored her second goal of the season early in the first quarter, but the Long Island University field hockey team dropped a tight contest in overtime to Saint Francis University, 2-1 on Friday afternoon.
 
Bell also finished with a team high three shots on goal. Sophomore Emma Braeckmans and freshman Alexis Ruiz each had a shot on goal as well. Senior Taylor Brodsky finished with one assist on the day. In goal, junior Rachel Vellis made 16 saves, facing 18 shots.  
 
Bell got the Sharks on the board in the second minute of the game, after collecting the pass from Brodsky. She had another opportunity later in the first quarter that was saved by the Saint Francis goalkeeper. Braeckmans also had her shot 10 minutes into the game that was once again saved. Vellis shut out the Red Flash offense for the entire first quarter, making one save during the opening 15 minutes.
 
Vellis made two back-to-back saves early in the second quarter. Bell had a shot that was blocked, leading to the Sharks' first offensive corner opportunity of the game. The Red Flash offense had four shots in the last three minutes of the half, which Vellis saved. With 30 seconds left of the first half, the Red Flash broke through, tying the game at 1 apiece.
 
Ruiz opened the third quarter with her shot that was once again saved by the Red Flash goalkeeper. Bell and Braeckmans both had shots throughout the third quarter but could not convert.
 
Vellis made eight saves throughout the third and fourth quarters to keep the Red Flash off the board and force overtime. Saint Francis would be the first to find the back of the net in overtime to come away victorious, but Vellis made one save and another shot was blocked in the overtime period.

 
The Sharks will close out their weekend trip on Sunday September 29, taking on Lock Haven University. The non-conference matchup against the Bald Eagles will start at 1:00 p.m.