The No. 5-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team completed its regular season with a dominant 8-0 win over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponent Mercyhurst University on a cold Saturday afternoon from David See Field.
The Raiders, in a dominating show of offense, began the scoring before the end of the first minute of action. Freshman Adrienne McGarrigle tallied her fifth goal of the season to open the scoring for SU.
McGarrigle had a big game for the Raiders, totaling two goals and one assist in the team’s win over Mercyhurst. The freshman forward/midfielder finished her rookie season with six goals and four assists.
It did not take long for SU to add to its lead, as the team’s leading scorer, sophomore Jazmin Petrantonio, put one in the net off a deflection to make the score 2–0. Petrantonio would later add another goal on a penalty stroke in the 56th minute of the game. She finished the day with two goals and completed her sophomore season with 19.
Raider sophomore Emily Stauffer also had quite a game. She scored her seventh and eighth goals of the season during the team’s 8–0 blowout win over Mercyhurst.
Both of her goals on the day came with some good hustle, with the first coming on a long cross into the circle. Her second goal came on a rebound opportunity that fell right to her.
From the very first minute of the game, the Raiders’ offense took control and dominated. The Raiders outshot Mercyhurst 37-8, and they had a 27-4 advantage in shots on goal.
The Raiders offense this season has been known for its aggressive, attacking style. They finished the season ranked second in the PSAC in goals scored per game with 3.76. They finished second in the conference in shots with 370. On Saturday afternoon, that style showed up.
Shippensburg (14-3, 8-2 PSAC) finished the season ranked third in the PSAC, right behind rivals East Stroudsburg (15-3, 9-1 PSAC) and West Chester (15-2, 9-1 PSAC) universities.
All three of the Raiders’ losses this season came against ranked opponents, with two of them coming against ESU.
Their struggles against ranked competition will have to end if the Raiders have any shot at winning the PSAC tournament and making some noise in the upcoming NCAA Division II national tournament.
Up next for the Raiders is a PSAC quarterfinals game against Bloomsburg University (11-6, 5-5 PSAC). The Raiders will be hosting the game at the Robb Sports Complex today at 4 p.m.
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