The Shippensburg University field hockey team split two non-conference games this past week against East Stroudsburg University and Mansfield University.
The Raiders began the week on Wednesday afternoon with an important game in Shippensburg against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East rival East Stroudsburg. SU was shut out 4-0 in this contest, resulting in the team falling behind the Warriors in the national rankings. While both teams are currently 4–1, East Stroudsburg has the overall advantage due to the head-to-head win.
SU could not find the net on Wednesday, but it was not for a lack of trying. The team put up 13 shots, but the accuracy of those shots was lacking. Only three of the 13 shots were on goal. The difference in the contest was that East Stroudsburg put up 12 shots, with 11 of those shots on goal.
The Warriors began the scoring in the 10th minute with a goal by Lexi Hartman. It turned out that was all that they would need to defeat SU, but added three more goals through the remainder of the game for some insurance. Paige Harrold added her second and third goals of the season for East Stroudsburg in the win.
It was an uncharacteristic performance in net from redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Ally Mooney. Mooney, who before Wednesday’s game had not given up more than one goal in any game this season, had to be pulled from the game due to her struggles in goal. Redshirt-freshman Megan Lay came in to replace her, giving up one goal and making five saves in the 33:40 that she was on the field.
Freshman Adrienne McGarrigle now has five shots on the season after adding three against Mansfield.
The defending national champion Raiders had something to prove on Saturday afternoon when they took on Mansfield. SU’s offense rebounded to help get the team back on track with a 6–3 victory.
Saturday’s game did not lack offense, with a combined nine goals and 54 shots (35 on goal) coming in the game. Sophomore Jazmin Petrantonio continued her excellent second season by tallying a hat trick. She leads the team in both goals (seven) and points (14).
The Raiders gave up the first goal of the game in the fifth minute when Mansfield’s Larissa Motts took advantage of an excellent pass to put one past Mooney. However, it took only three minutes for SU to tie the game up. Sophomore forward Kelly Shulenberger scored her first goal of the season off a pass from freshman midfielder Valen Alonso in the eighth minute.
Petrantonio then took over the game with two goals in the 13th and 24th minutes that gave the Raiders a lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game. After losing a lot of the team’s top players to graduation, the Raiders seem to have found some new leadership in Petrantonio.
The Raiders’ offense bounced back from its weak performance against East Stroudsburg to put up 27 shots, with 20 of those shots being on goal. Petrantonio led the way for the Raiders with three goals, but freshman Valen Alonso also had her best game of the season. She tallied her second goal of the season as well as assisting on the goal that tied the game.
Mooney was back to form and had a big game, effectively rebounding from her rough outing against East Stroudsburg. She made nine saves and allowed only one goal in 55 minutes of action. The Raiders were able to open up their lead enough that Mooney was able to get some rest at the end of the game. Lay came in and allowed two goals off the bench in 15 minutes of action.
The Raiders (4–1) will look to continue their offensive explosion when they next take on Seton Hill on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at David See Field.
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