Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Jessica Kida scored two goals to help IUP to a 4-3 win over visiting East Stroudsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) field hockey contest on Saturday at Miller Stadium.

During halftime, IUP collected donations for the Susan G. Komen Fund as a part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Crimson Hawks also helped raise awareness by wearing pink socks and bows during the game.

The win was crucial for the Crimson Hawks as they battle for one of the final spots in the upcoming PSAC tournament. IUP improves to 7-9 on the year and is now in a three-way tie for the fifth spot in the conference with a 4-4 record. The top six teams advance to the postseason.

Kida's goals give her a team-leading 10 for the year. Although the first IUP score came off the stick of Ashley Mosner (Newton, NJ/Newton), who collected a pass from Kate Bruce (Clarks Summit/Lackawanna Trail) in front of the cage for a goal in the 28th minute. Kida got her first goal just two minutes later in a scramble in front of the cage after Kendra Blantz (Lancaster/Conestoga Valley) dumped it down from the top of the circle.

The Crimson Hawks took that 2-0 lead into the half after completely dominating East Stroudsburg during the game's first 35 minutes of play. IUP held an 11-2 shot advantage and had six penalty corners compared to zero for the Warriors.

It was a different story in the second half as the Warriors controlled the ball on IUP's defensive side for the majority. Forcing to the Crimson Hawks back on their heels, ESU got off 11 shots and had 12 penalty corners.

The Warriors got their first goal in the 49th minute and tied the game at 2-2 a little over two minutes later.

The Crimson Hawks took advantage of their few offensive chances in the second half. Kida helped IUP regain the lead in the 57th minute when she deflected a shot by Kate Bruce (Clarks Summit/Lackawanna Trail) into the lower right corner of the cage. Casey McGowan (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South) then gave IUP a two-goal lead when she knocked in a penalty stroke less than two minutes later. It was McGowan's fourth penalty stroke goal of the season.

East Stroudsburg brought its deficit back to one with 6:09 remaining and continued to press but Darian Shuker (Reading, Pa./Exeter ) and the Crimson Hawks defense came up huge down the stretch. Shuker finished with seven saves on the day, including six in the second half.

The Crimson Hawks get a chance to gain more ground as they wrap up the regular season with two games next week. They'll host Bloomsburg (9-6, 5-3) on Tuesday and Millersville (15-1, 7-1) on Saturday.