SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 1 Salisbury University field hockey team picked up a thrilling 6-5 win in overtime against No. 16 the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon, on senior day at Sea Gull Stadium.

The win was not only big to keep the Sea Gulls' five-game winning streak going, but it also locked up the top seed and home-field advantage in next month's Capital Athletic Conference tournament.

After taking a 4-2 lead into halftime, Salisbury saw its advantage disappear, as the Eagles tied the game early in the second half with goals from Christine Downie and Ashlin Jones less than two minutes apart.

But the Sea Gulls (14-1, 5-0 CAC) would not sit back, retaking the lead in the 42nd minute when junior Samantha Johnson was set up at the right post and tipped home a long feed from senior Summer Washburn.

The Eagles (13-4, 4-1 CAC) would tie the game one more time, as Jenna Steele gathered in a loose ball eight yards off the end line in front of the Salisbury goal. Steele put home a shot into the right side of the cage, evening the score at 5-5 with under 18 minutes left in the game.

Salisbury would get credited with two penalty corners and attempted three shots over the final 18 minutes of regulation, but could not get another past Mary Washington goalkeeper Megan McLaughlin. The Eagles would attempt just one shot in the closing minutes, which was turned away by freshman goalkeeper Tressie Windsor, who entered the contest in the second half.

In overtime, the seven-on-seven play worked in Salisbury's favor, as the Sea Gulls took early possession and put pressure on the Mary Washington defense.

Salisbury would get the first corner try, which allowed Washburn to walk in on McLaughlin, but the attempt was turned away just 51 seconds into the extra session. The Sea Gulls got another penalty corner two and a half minutes later, and would not miss.

Washburn took Johnson's insert at the top of the circle and drew the defense before sending the ball back to Johnson on the left side. Johnson lifted a shot, which deflected off McLaughlin and an Eagle defender into the cage for the game-winning goal 3:35 into overtime.

The early moments of the game did not appear that overtime would be needed as the Sea Gulls took control. After each team had some chances, Salisbury got the scoring started in the 10th minute, when junior Jessica Crew sent a long cross into the circle. The ball skidded past the Mary Washington defense and found senior Karen Cindea near the left post. Cindea took a swipe and sent the ball into the top-left corner for the early lead.

It took just two minutes for the Gulls to strike again as Salisbury was credited with its second penalty corner of the first half, and converted. Johnson inserted to Washburn on the left wing. Washburn ripped a shot toward the left side of the net where junior Courtney Jantzen was waiting to deflect the ball in for the 2-0 lead.

Washburn got her own goal with just under 13 minutes left in the first half, ripping a shot from the left wing off another Johnson penalty corner insert. The shot was deflected by a Mary Washington defender into the top-left corner for the 3-0 lead.

The Eagles would get their first goal of the day in the 27th minute when Kathleen Namey ripped a shot from the left wing off an assist from Carlee Budd. The duo hooked up again, on a penalty corner goal two minutes later, this time Budd was the scorer on Namey's assist to cut the SU lead to 3-2.

Salisbury pushed the lead to 4-2 heading to halftime when Jantzen cleaned up her own rebound with less than two minutes to play in the first half, but the excitement of the final 40 minutes was still to come.

Washburn notched three assists in the contest, to bring her career total to 27, alongside Johnson's 27 career helpers, moving the pair to a tie for fifth on Salisbury's career list.

Washburn, Cindea and fellow seniors Rachel Clewer, Mallory Elliott and Gloria Godinez were all honored before the game, playing in their final regular-season home game.

The Sea Gulls close out the regular season on Tuesday, October 28 traveling to St. Mary's College of Maryland for a 3 p.m., start. Salisbury will be off following Tuesday's game before hosting a CAC semifinal on Wednesday, November 5.