In field hockey, insurance goals are hard to come by, especially when a team is chasing a national title.

The Shippensburg University field hockey team got an insurance goal from senior Bre White to propel the Raiders over Millersville University 3–1 in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament on Friday afternoon.

Just 13 days ago the Raiders lost an emotional PSAC Championship game against the Marauders at Robb Sports Complex. SU was looking for revenge on MU and found it in Virginia Beach, Va.

The Raiders struck first with the only goal of the first half when Lauren Taylor shot a ball through traffic that found the back of the cage.

“It was all about keeping composure that was out main focus…it was all about getting back to the basics,” Taylor said.

The Raiders dominated the first half, outshooting MU 5–1.

The Marauders tied the game three minutes into the second half when Samantha Ruane finished off a well-placed pass from Hanna White that snuck through SU goalkeeper Carenna Neely.

Neely had a quiet day in the cage, due to the Raiders’ stellar defensive outing, Neely did not have to save any shots from the Marauders.

The Raiders recaptured the lead in the 51st minute of play when Ari Saytar scored her fifth goal of the season when she shot the ball through traffic and found the back of the net.

White capped off SU’s scoring when she dribbled through the defense in the 62nd minute of play and fired a shot that made it past the MU goalie, solidifying the Raiders’ win.

“I just kept going, I beat one (defender) and I just kept going, I saw the corner of the cage and just shot it,” White said.

The Raiders earned a trip to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2010 when they lost to Massachusetts-Lowell on a cold and snowy December afternoon.

The Raiders will now face LIU Post on Sunday for the NCAA National Championship.

“We are familiar with their style of play, they are going to be a great opponent and it is going to be a great game,” head coach Bertie Landes said.

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