EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – No. 6 IUP field hockey battled No. 3 East Stroudsburg through 80 scoreless minutes before falling in a shootout, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
The Crimson Hawks saw their four-game winning streak come to an end, moving to 11-4 overall and 5-2 in PSAC play, while East Stroudsburg improved to 14-3 overall and 6-2 in conference action. Neither side found the back of the cage through regulation or two overtime periods, sending the nationally ranked matchup to a shootout.
IUP goalkeeper Celeste Pagliaroli helped keep the Crimson Hawks in the contest throughout the afternoon, playing all 80 minutes and making four saves. East Stroudsburg finished with a 15-7 advantage in shots, but IUP limited the Warriors' opportunities on goal throughout regulation.
Kasey Rieger generated IUP's first opportunity of the afternoon with a shot on goal late in the opening quarter, but East Stroudsburg made the save. The Crimson Hawks and Warriors remained scoreless through the opening 30 minutes.
IUP began to generate more pressure after halftime, recording two shots in the third quarter and three in the fourth. Kylee Hager and Hayven Mumma each put attempts on cage during the fourth quarter, but East Stroudsburg kept the Crimson Hawks off the scoreboard.
With the game still scoreless after regulation, the teams moved to seven-on-seven overtime.
East Stroudsburg created the first dangerous chances of the extra session, but Pagliaroli stood tall in goal to preserve the tie. IUP earned its only penalty corner of the afternoon shortly after but could not convert.
The Crimson Hawks nearly found the winner in the second overtime when Lauren Horning put a shot on cage in the 77th minute, but the attempt was turned away.
Pagliaroli was tested repeatedly over the closing minutes of the second overtime and continued to keep the Warriors off the board, sending the nationally ranked battle to a shootout scoreless.
East Stroudsburg converted the opening shootout attempt before IUP was denied on its first opportunity. Hager answered for the Crimson Hawks, converting IUP's second attempt to level the shootout.
The Warriors regained the advantage on their next opportunity. Pagliaroli kept IUP within striking distance with multiple stops during the shootout, but the Crimson Hawks were unable to find another conversion as East Stroudsburg escaped with the victory.
Horning led IUP with two shots, putting both on goal, while Mumma also recorded two attempts. Rieger and Hager each put an attempt on cage.
The setback snapped IUP's four-game winning streak, which included three consecutive victories over nationally ranked opponents.
