INDIANA, Pa. – With every game carrying added importance down the stretch, No. 7 IUP field hockey delivered one of its biggest wins of the season Saturday afternoon, scoring three unanswered second-half goals to defeat No. 5 West Chester, 3-1, at Miller Stadium on Senior Day.
The Crimson Hawks honored their six seniors before the game before rallying from a one-goal halftime deficit to earn another top-five victory.
West Chester carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime before senior Lilly Fringer pulled IUP even just over six minutes into the third quarter. Fringer found the cage off an assist from Grace McGeehan to tie the game at 1-1.
Just over two minutes later, sophomore Kasey Rieger struck for the eventual game-winning goal, giving the Crimson Hawks a 2-1 advantage. Hayven Mumma picked up the assist on the go-ahead goal.
McGeehan added some insurance for IUP in the fourth quarter, scoring off an assist from Sydney Schmouder to complete the three-goal second half. The junior finished the afternoon with three points on a goal and an assist.
Senior goalkeeper Celeste Pagliaroli earned the start in the cage and helped keep the Golden Rams off the board after halftime. Pagliaroli finished with five saves in the victory.
West Chester held a narrow 13-12 advantage in total shots, while the Golden Rams also led 6-5 in shots on goal. West Chester goalkeeper Erin O'Brien made two saves on IUP's five shots on goal.
Senior Lauren Horning led the Crimson Hawks with five shots, while McGeehan put two of her three attempts on goal.
The victory gave IUP another marquee result against a nationally ranked opponent after the Crimson Hawks defeated then-No. 5 Bloomsburg, 1-0, one week earlier.
IUP returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 28, hosting Slippery Rock at 4 p.m.
