SWEET BRIAR, Va. – The #14 Shenandoah University field hockey team continued their winnings ways after defeating Sweet Briar on the road on Saturday. The Hornets (12-2, 4-0) won their 10
th straight game to remain unbeaten in conference play after an 8-0 win against the Vixens. The Hornets got contributions from seven goal scorers, with
Cassidy Morrison finding the back of the cage twice. The Hornets got goals from
Mairead McKibbin,
Claudia Lenahan,
Elizabeth Ranberger,
Madison Short,
Farren Winter, and
Abbey Ritter. Winter led all players with seven shots, while McKibbin and Morrison each blasted five shots. Shenandoah completely dominated the game as the defense only gave up two total shots, neither of which were on target, and the defense did not surrender any penalty corners.
Taylor Swann started in the cage for the Hornets and played the first three quarters, before getting subbed out for
Taylor Bullis.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets started quickly as
Elizabeth Ranberger intercepted a pass and cut towards the net and fired a shot just wide.
Cassidy Morrison kept the pressure up and the ball in Vixens' zone with a shot of her own, but that too sailed wide. The Hornets earned their first corner in the third minute, and resulted in
Farren Winter's shot getting blocked.
Kaitlyn Nakamura then got the ball and her shot was also off the mark. In the 6
th minute, Morrison and
Mairead McKibbin each fired shots, both were blocked. Keeping the pressure up, the Hornets earned another corner. This time
Madison Short sent the ball to
Camryn DeLeva, and like her teammates, could not find the back of the cage, but you could feel a goal coming. Off of a corner,
Claudia Lenahan centered a ball,
Cassidy Morrison's initial shot was blocked, but then found the stick of
Mairead McKibbin who slotted the ball past the keeper for a 1-0 lead. The Hornets did not have any more opportunities in the first quarter, nor did they give up any shots to the Vixens.
In the second, Sweet Briar got their first shot of the game in 17
th minute, but it was blocked and never made its way to Swann. Going the other way,
Lily Kyvelos blasted a shot that was saved, but the rebound went to Lenahan, and this time she did not miss. The Hornets took a 2-0 lead in the 18
th minute. Off of the restart, the Hornets quickly got the ball back and continued applying pressure, Morrison's shot was saved by the keeper. Off another Hornets' corner, Kyvelos' initial shot was saved, before her second chance was blocked and went wide of the cage. In the 19
th minute,
Kaitlyn Nakamura's shot was saved before McKibbin had back-to-back looks at goal, but both of those shots were saved as well. The Hornets were assessed a green card and now found themselves down a player, but during the penalty kill, Sweet Briar picked up a card of their own to bring the game back to even strength.
Farren Winter got in the scoring action as she took a long pass and weaved in and out of defenders before blasting a backhanded shot at the top of the circle, beating the goalie making it a 3-0 Hornet lead. McKibbin got one more shot off in the quarter, before Ranberger scored a goal in the final minute of the half to make it 4-0 heading to the break.
In the second half,
Cassidy Morrison scored back-to-back goals in the 36
th minute with 48 seconds of each other to push the lead to 6-0. The Vixens switched goalies, but on the keeper's first chance, off a corner,
Madison Short scored her third of the season off an assist from Nakamura in the 38
th minute. Continuing to apply pressure, the Hornets kept peppering the defense with shots. The Hornets earned one more corner, but could not increase the lead as they took a comfortable 7-0 lead into the fourth.
In the fourth,
Taylor Bullis took over Swann, but neither goalie was called to action having to make a save. The Hornets had four good looks at adding to the lead after shots from Emily Swartzbough, Winter, Short, and
Elexis Stouffer were all saved.
Abbey Ritter did cash in for her first goal of the season off an assist from Stouffer. That was the last shot the Hornets had, as the Vixens only managed one shot in the quarter, which rang off the post. The clock hit zeros, and the Hornets left victorious.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will return home on Wednesday evening for a conference match with Eastern Mennonite that will start at 6 pm.
#GoSUHornets
