FINDLAY, Ohio – Two teams heading in different directions met Sunday in their respective regular season finales. Whereas UIndy (6-11, 4-8 GLIAC) had dropped their last two and three of their last four, Findlay came in riding a three game winning streak including a 13-12 upset of McKendree, Friday night.
In terms of conference seeding, Sunday's matchup was essentially meaningless. Findlay's win over McKendree clinched the four seed for the Oilers, sliding UIndy to the five slot, meaning a rubber match is set for Tuesday between the two clubs in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament.
Scoring runs were the story of the day in Ohio, as each team strung together four unanswered scoring streaks. Both sides exchanged two-goal runs in the first half, leading to a 5-5 tie through the first 30 minutes.
Anna Rulapuagh scored the first three goals for the Hounds, bringing her season tally to 24. Rulapaugh then fed
Hannah Burczyk for a score at the 9:01 mark, her first of two assists on the day.
Chalane Morrison's goal with 1:48 in the first tied the game at five.
It was Findlay's runs to open the second half, however, that sealed the game. The Oilers scored seven of the first eight goals after halftime, interrupted by a lone goal from
Erica Bushold, to take a commanding 12-6 lead.
UIndy would answer with goals from five different players in the final ten minutes, but their comeback attempt fell short.
Burczyk, Morrison,
Sydney Hauffman,
Laura McKee and
Hana Priddy all contributed to Indianapolis' second half scoring.
Irene Carlquist made nine saves in cage for UIndy.
The Greyhounds' inaugural season continues now with their first-ever trip to the GLIAC Tournament. The Hounds and Oilers will once again meet in Findlay on Tuesday for the GLIAC Quarterfinals. The winner will be the top-seed Grand Valley State.