Field Hockey Suffers Successive Defeats

Ryutaro Takada
Satff Writer

Nicole Cave tapped in a rebound shot to score the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute as No. 6 Millersville University prevailed over No. 7 LIU Post, 1-0, on Monday, September 24, in a PSAC East battle at Biemsderfer Stadium in Millersville, Pennsylvania. With the loss, LIU Post falls to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

The Marauders outshot the Pioneers 15-2, and were awarded 13 penalty corners compared to the Pioneers’ two. Sophomore goalkeeper Becca May made six stops in goal for LIU Post.

Later in the week, on Friday, September 28, No. 4 Indiana University scored three second half goals to defeat No. 8 LIU Post, 3-1, in a non-conference field hockey match at Miller Stadium in Indiana, Pennsylvania. LIU Post’s record slipped to 5-4.

Senior midfielder Anouk Sickman tallied the Hawks’ first goal on a penalty stroke in the 39th minute. The Pioneers responded just over a minute later when freshman forward Keliann Margiotta dribbled past the goalkeeper and fired into the back of the cage on a feed from junior forward Carlee Dragon in the 40th minute.

Indiana scored the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute when senior forward Nicole Bruce found the back of the net. Bruce also assisted on the third goal when her initial shot was rebounded and scored on by junior forward Chelsea Wanamaker in the 65th minute.

Indiana outshot LIU Post, 12-8. The Pioneers had an 11-9 advantage on penalty corners.
Sophomore Becca May made eight stops in goal for the Pioneers.

In the third game of the week, on Saturday, September 29, the Pioneers tried to bounce back after consecutive tough losses against Seton Hill University. The Griffins scored two goals in the first two minutes of the game and went on to defeat No. 8 LIU Post, 3-2. With the loss, LIU Post’s record moves to .500 at 5-5.

The pair of goals by the Griffins were scored by junior midfielder Lauren Mariano (1:06) and senior forward Joanna Pichardo (3:35). The Pioneers got on the board in the 33rd minute when Dragon found the back of the net to cut the lead in half.

The Griffins scored once more in the 44th minute with a goal from junior defender Melayna Currie. Pioneers freshman forward Claire Steijn scored her second goal of the season in the 54th minute. For the game, LIU Post outshot Seton Hill 12-10, but it was not enough to pull out a victory.
The Pioneers’ next game is on the road on Wednesday, October 3, versus Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania at 4 p.m.