The No. 1–ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team blew by Mercyhurst University on senior day this Saturday at Robb Sports Complex 8–0. Seven different players scored for the Raiders, with senior Bre White the only player with two goals.
All nine of SU’s seniors started the game, with defender Brynn Seidenstricker earning her first start of the year.
The game was a back-and-forth battle until White was able to swing the ball across the mouth of the goal where Lauren Taylor was waiting to knock it in, sending the Raiders up 1–0 early in the game.
SU took the momentum from that goal and ran with it as Megan Jett got a breakaway.
The goalie crashed into her and a foul was called before White could put away the loose ball. White still ended up picking up a goal on the ensuing penalty stroke.
The Raiders scored one more goal in the half, at 6:33. A combination play started off with White and ended with a goal from Jett after an assist from Taylor.
The half ended 3–0 in favor of the Raiders, but the scoring did not end there.
White scored her second goal of the game off a pass from Brittany Jett with 24:30 left in the half, and Katie Shoop scored 30 seconds later to make it 5–0 in favor of SU.
The Lakers called a timeout following the goal, which is when SU started to bring in its second-string players.The Raiders did not let up though.
Tori Ricker had a chance at a goal off a wide shot by Shoop, but she was unable to get her stick on it.
Later in the half, Ricker started a sequence that led to a goal by Cassie Rawa.
Ricker beat two defenders coming after her on the SU side of the field and made a great pass to Taylor Bender down the side who fed it to Rawa.
Rawa’s first shot was blocked by the stick of the MU goalie but was able to collect it and fire it home for her first career NCAA goal.
Bender scored next for the Raiders, collecting a pass from Suzanne Muller and beating the goalie.
It was Muller’s turn to score next, as she scored SU’s final goal off a corner.
Carenna Neely was unbeatable in goal through her almost 46 minutes of playing time, notching three saves.
Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Webster also came in for the Raiders, tallying two saves of her own.
SU remains unbeaten (14–0) and will head to Slippery Rock on Wednesday. The PSAC opponents will face off at 4 p.m.
SRU has struggled so far this season but can be a challenge for the Raiders if they are not ready for what The Rock throws their way.
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