MONTCLAIR, Nj – The Shenandoah field hockey team wrapped up a quick two-game road trip to the Garden State by defeating Montclair State University Sunday afternoon in non-conference play. The Hornets (5-1) easily took care of the host Red Hawks (3-4) by a score of 2-0.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Hornets outshot the Red Hawks 19-10 on the afternoon, as both teams would tie with putting eight shots on the cage.
Gracie Wilkerson led all players with players with nine shots, with
Claudia Lenahan having two shots. Nine other Hornets were able to get a shot off during the contest Sunday afternoon. Shenandoah also had a 10-7 edge in penalty corners. Junior goalkeeper
Taylor Swann was perfect for the second game in a row for the weekend, making eight saves on the day. Swann now has three clean sheets in five starts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Once again SU would look to apply pressure on their opponent, firing shots at the keeper within the first two minutes of play, but the Hornets were not able to convert those shots to the scoreboard. Wasting little time at the start of the second period, Shenandoah applied the pressure on the Red Hawk back line once again.
Gracie Wilkerson would get a shot off as time expired in the half but the MSU keeper was able to keep the score level heading into the break.
After the break, it was the Red Hawks time to start applying pressure, as Montclair State was able to get four shots off and earned four penalty corners all within the first five minutes of the period.
Taylor Swann and the Hornet defenders did a fantastic job of keeping Montclair State out of the back of the cage. As the period was winding down, the Hornets would earn back-to-back penalty corners.
Madison Short passed a ball to Wilkerson, Wilkerson's shot was blocked, but
Mairead McKibbin was there to pick up her sixth goal of the season as time would expire in the third.
Gracie Wilkerson would tack on an insurance goal after Shenandoah earned a penalty stroke early in the final stanza. The goal for Wilkerson was her fourth of the season. The Hornets would weather the final attempts from the Red Hawks and leave Montclair with a 2-0 victory for the fourth straight win.
WHAT IS NEXT?
Shenandoah will continue its five-game road trip next weekend with a non-conference matchup against Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va Saturday afternoon. Faceoff for that game is slated for 1 pm.
#GoSUHornets
