WINCHESTER, Va. – The #19 Shenandoah University field hockey team came up with the biggest win in program history after taking down #2 Salisbury University on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets (5-2) needed all 60 minutes of regulations and 2:49 of the first overtime period to secure the 1-0 victory. The Hornets' goal came off of the stick of
Cassidy Morrison, her team-leading 10
th goal of the season off an assist from
Farren Winter as the Hornets took advantage of a fastbreak, odd-man advantage. Winter, sprinting down the right side, sent a ball past the defender to a wide-open Morrison, who was one-on-one with the goalie and buried the shot in the back of the cage.
Taylor Swann was phenomenal for the Hornets, coming up with ten saves to earn her third consecutive shutout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Facing the most potent offense since the Hornets played Johns Hopkins in week two of the season, the Seagulls looked to keep their perfect record going.
Taylor Swann was instantly tested as she quickly made three early saves. Before a ball got to Swann, the Hornet defense was up to the task of blocking shots. In the first,
Kaitlyn Nakamura got the first opportunity for the Hornets, but her shot was blocked and stopped by the Seagull defense. Off of the first corner for the Hornets,
Madison Short sent a ball to
Camryn DeLeva who had a clear shot at goal, and the Seagull goalie made her first of three saves. The Hornets earned one more corner in the first but could not score, and the midfield kept the ball deep in Salisbury's territory.
In the second, Salisbury was the only one to get a shot off, which Swann saved. The game remained scoreless going into halftime.
Salisbury started pressuring the Hornet defense in the third, earning a corner within the first 30 seconds of the half. Swann was quickly tested and made three straight saves before the Seagulls had their second corner of the quarter. Off of that corner, Swann made another save, keeping the score tied at zero. The Hornet had two shots in the third, both of which were saved by the goalie. Salisbury had two good chances as with five seconds in the third, but Swann stood on her head and stopped both.
The Hornets went on two five-minute power plays in the fourth, but were only able to earn two corners. Salisbury, eager to stay unbeaten, fired three shots late in the fourth, but Swann again stopped all shots. Right before overtime,
Claudia Lenahan was issued a yellow card, but with each team playing a player down, it was the Hornets who ended up on the fast break.
Farren Winter raced down the sideline and played a perfect through ball to
Cassidy Morrison, who had a breakaway with the goalie, Morrison came through for her team again and buried her tenth goal of the season.
Coach
Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft had this to say about the win, "we knew prepping for the game it was going to take every single person on the field and sideline, everything we had to win the game. Credit to our players they committed to the game plan, they won 50-50's, they put the ball away when we needed it the most, and they just played simple possession. Biggest win in program history, but it's because we had every single person committed to that win and putting their energy into it. I am so incredibly proud."
Senior goalie
Taylor Swann said, "This is a team win that we needed. Everyone out there gave everything they had, we all had nothing left in the tank. I am very proud of this team and how we played today."
UP NEXT
The Hornets have the week off and will hit the road next Saturday when they travel to Glassboro, New Jersey for a match up with Rowan. That game will start at noon.
#GoSUHornets
