WINCHESTER, Va. – The #11 Shenandoah University field hockey wrapped up their regular-season home slate with a 3-0 win over Bridgewater on Wednesday night. The Hornets (15-2, 7-0) got a first-quarter goal from
Mairead McKibbin, before
Camryn DeLeva added two second-half goals to secure the win. In a game that the Hornets dominated, Shenandoah had the edge in shots 19-7 and 13-5 in penalty corners.
Elizabeth Ranberger and
Cassidy Morrison led the Hornets with five shots each, with McKibbin, Short, and DeLeva all firing multiple shots as well.
Taylor Swann started in the cage, made two saves, and picked up her 15
th win and 5
th straight shutout. After falling to Washington College (Md) back in the beginning of September, the Hornets have now won 13 straight games, which is the longest consecutive win streak.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bridgewater had the first scoring chance of the game as the Eagles earned a penalty corner in the third minute. Off of the corner, Bridgewater got their first shot that Swann saved before a second follow-up shot was blocked. It took half the first of the first quarter before the Hornets got their first shot. Morrison and McKibbin each fired shots that were saved, and Morrison got another shot off, but that one sailed wide. In the 8
th minute, off of a corner, Ranberger's shot went wide, but the Hornets earned another corner.
Claudia Lenahan's shot was blocked off the second corner before Shenandoah finally cashed in on the third corner.
Madison Short inserted the ball to the top of the circle, and the ball found the stick of
Camryn DeLeva, who ripped a shot toward the goal,
Mairead McKibbin got a stick on it and redirected it into the goal to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. Ranberger had one last shot in the first, and the Hornets took the 1-0 lead into the second quarter.
In the second, the Hornets got shots from Morrison, Ranberger, and Short as well as three corners, but could not add to their lead and went into the break up 1-0. Bridgewater had their best scoring opportunity in the second after earning a corner. After the ball was inserted, the ball found the stick of Rylie Flick, who was in front of the goal, she took a touch and headed toward the far post. Swann, who was initially fooled by the shot, recovered fully and dove to her right to make the save and preserve the shutout.
Bridgewater switched goalies in the second half, but the Hornets took advantage with a goal in each quarter. After the Hornets' fifth penalty corner of the quarter, the ball found the stick of DeLeva, who ripped a shot from the wing and beat the new keeper on the far post. In the fourth quarter, on a very similar play, off of a corner. Short inserted the ball to
Farren Winter, Winter slotted the ball to the left wing, where DeLeva fired another shot toward the goal. The ball took an awkward bounce off a stick and was redirected past a sliding goalie for DeLeva's second goal of the game. Shenandoah did not give up a shot in the fourth quarter.
DeLeva had a career night. This was the first time she had scored two goals in a game and had the assist on McKibbin's goal in the first quarter. Before this, the most points DeLeva had in a game was four against Roanoke with a goal and two assists.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will finish the regular season when they travel to Lynchburg to do battle with the other Hornets on Saturday. The winner of the game will be the top seed in the next week's ODAC field hockey playoffs.
#GoSUHornets
