Field hockey starts season with pair of shutout wins

Shippensburg University’s field hockey team began its season on a high note, moving to 2-0 after a pair of wins in North Carolina this weekend. The Raiders, No. 3 in the Division II National Coaches Poll, beat No. 7 Mount Olive 1-0 on Friday and Belmont Abbey 6-0 on Saturday.

Friday’s contest against Mount Olive saw a very tight match. With no goals until the 50th minute, freshman Anne Gardner scored her first collegiate goal off an assist from junior Agus Garibaldi, putting the Raiders on top for good. The win was the 100th of Shippensburg Head Coach Tara Zollinger’s career, giving her a 100-23 record.

Both teams finished the match with 13 shots, along with six shots each in the first half. The Trojans had one more shot on goal than the Raiders, leading that category 7-6, but SU redshirt junior Emma Albee saved all seven of Mount Olive’s shots to secure the shutout.

The Raiders returned on Saturday for a neutral site matchup against Belmont Abbey, where they picked up a dominant victory. Five different Raiders scored in the match, with three others adding assists.

After a scoreless first quarter, Garibaldi got the first goal on the board, scoring off an assist from senior Yasmin De Meyer. The two teamed up again just three minutes later, with De Meyer assisting another Garibaldi goal to put the Raiders up 2-0. Redshirt sophomore Alexa Michielsen tacked on another goal later in the quarter, giving SU a 3-0 halftime lead.

Senior Ashley Button was the next to score, striking in the third quarter with sophomore Carme Caracotche Picone providing the assist. Gardner got her second goal of the weekend later in the third, before sophomore Mckenna Boyle added the final goal of the game, assisted by junior Savanah Silvestre.

Shippensburg’s offense was relentless in the game, outshooting Belmont Abbey 23-5. Albee saved all three of the Crusaders’ shots on goal for another shutout, the eighth of her career.

The Raiders will return home this week for a pair of nonconference games at Robb Sports Complex. First is the home opener against New Haven at 3 p.m. on Friday, before taking on Assumption at 4 p.m. on Friday.