WINCHESTER, Va. – The #15 Shenandoah Hornets field hockey was back in action after a brief, one-game road trip last weekend. Tonight, the Hornets (7-2) got three goals from
Farren Winter to push the Hornets past the visiting Seahawks of St. Mary's College of Maryland, 3-1 on Wednesday evening. Shenandoah out shot the Seahawks 10-6, with six of the Hornets' shots coming on cage. The Hornets also earned one more penalty corner than the visitors, as the Hornets had four corners and scored a goal on their first attempt.
Taylor Swann started in the cage for Shenandoah, and the senior came up with three saves while only allowing the one goal late in the fourth.
Farren Winter blasted a game-high five shots, while five other Hornets each had one shot of their own.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With both teams feeling each other out at the start of the game, it was the Hornets who earned the first penalty corner of the game.
Madison Short inserted the ball, as
Mairead McKibbin stopped the pass, and
Farren Winter stepped up and fired a rocket past the Seahawks' net-minder to give the Hornets the early 1-0 lead in the first. Swann was not tested in the first, as the only shot she faced sailed wide, while Winter's shot was the only one the Hornets got off in the period.
Early in the second, Shenandoah earned their second corner. This time, after Short inserted the ball, McKibbin fired a shot that just missed as the game remained 1-0. Ninety seconds later, Winter blasted another shot; this one was kicked away for the save. A few minutes later, Winter connected for her second of the game and fourth of the season after a ball bounced around the top of the circle, the ball made its way to the stick of Winter to gather and ripped another shot past the keeper. After the goal, the Seahawks earned their first corner and got a shot off, but Swann did not need to panic as that shot also went wide, and the Hornets took a 2-0 lead into the break.
In the third quarter, momentum started to switch as St. Mary's earned a corner. The ball bounced around as Swann made three consecutive, close-range shots to keep St. Mary's off the board. That was the only threat the Hornets faced in the period, as
Kaitlyn Nakamura had the only shot for the Hornets, which was saved.
In the final quarter, the Hornets were looking to add to the lead. First, the Hornets earned a corner early in the period, as Winter had a good look at the goal, but her shot was blocked. As the Hornets continued to apply pressure,
Elizabeth Ranberger got her only shot of the game off, but that was saved as the score remained 2-0. The Hornets then took advantage of a Seahawks turnover, and Winter gathered the ball and started weaving in and out of players, breaking ankles, making defenders fall, faking out the goalie, and completing the hat trick. St. Mary's got a goal back off a corner. The Hornets neutralized the initial threat, but St. Mary's beat Swann to cut into the lead 3-1. The Hornets looked to get that goal back, earning their fourth corner of the game, but an offensive foul stopped that thought.
Emily Swartzbaugh had a good look at making it a three-goal game again, but her shot sailed just wide. That was the last chance the Hornets had as the clock hit triple zeros and the Hornets won the game 3-1.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will open ODAC play next week as they travel down to Lexington for a pivotal opening match with Washington and Lee.
#GoSUHornets
