SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The IUP field hockey team struck first and had some timely defensive plays, but could not account for a second quarter surge from ninth-ranked Mount Olive in a 3-1 setback on Saturday at Shippensburg's Robb Sports Complex.
IUP (1-1) opened the scoring before Mount Olive (1-1) answered back with three straight markers in the first half. The Trojans held a 12-11 advantage in shots on the afternoon with the chances becoming less numerous as the game progressed.
Mount Olive racked up seven shots on goal in the first half, countering back from sophomore
Jess Davidson's goal in the first quarter. The Crimson Hawks came out the gate strong with a pair of quick shot attempts. The second chance went just wide from sophomore
Roos van Herel on an attempted deflection.
The IUP defense denied the initial two chances for Mount Olive, blocking a shot while junior
Anita Planella kicked away her first save of the afternoon, one of two stops in the first quarter. Following a long pass into the attacking zone off a restart, IUP cashed in on a two-on-one chance as freshman
Mia Gerick swept a feed to her left that Davidson slotted home for a 1-0 lead in the first quarter. It marked the first collegiate point for Gerick in just her second game.
Mount Olive responded about three minutes later in the first quarter as Nikki Bos pushed a pass from the right endline into the high wing, where Rosie Migounoff buried a shot home through traffic. Planella kept the score tied with a diving stop on Annefluer Moerkerken in the second quarter. About 30 seconds later, the Trojans converted for the lead with a goal from Candice Wainschel followed by a marker for Amber Dercksen.
IUP looked to narrow the gap with chances from Davidson and junior
Olivia Reichley over the final three minutes of the half. Neither side found the scoresheet in the third quarter, combining for just three shots. Planella came up with her sixth save of the afternoon early in the fourth quarter with IUP looking to climb back into the game.
Gerick had one final opportunity for the Crimson Hawks late in the fourth quarter, unable to solve Mount Olive goalie Mia Neckritz.
Up Next
IUP opens the home portion of the 2023 schedule, hosting Mercyhurst at Miller Stadium on Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Follow
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