The Elizabethtown College field hockey team came out looking ready to challenge one of the nation’s top teams Tuesday night. Against Number 12 Stevenson University, the Blue Jays created early opportunities and kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard in the opening minutes.
Despite putting many shots on goal, none of them would land.
Etown earned two penalty strokes in the first quarter, giving the Blue Jays a chance to take an early lead against a Stevenson team that entered the game having recorded four straight shutouts. Seniors Hannah Long and Mia Fino each stepped up for Etown, but both attempts were stopped by Stevenson goalkeeper Jordan Vradenburgh.
Despite the missed opportunities, the Blue Jays remained competitive throughout the opening quarter. Etown recorded five shots during the period and limited Stevenson to three, sending the teams into the second quarter still scoreless.
Stevenson broke through at the 17:10 mark when Hailey Mertz scored off an assist from Sydney Aylward. Just 22 seconds later, the Mustangs struck again. Kailen Hibshman converted a penalty corner to give Stevenson a 2-0 advantage.
The Mustangs continued to build momentum, adding another goal less than five minutes later. What had been a scoreless contest quickly became a three-goal deficit for the Blue Jays.
Etown entered halftime trailing 3-0, but the team did not allow the deficit to turn into a defensive collapse.
The Blue Jays tightened up defensively in the third quarter, holding Stevenson to only two shots. Goalkeeper Lily DeBlasio made several saves to keep Etown within reach as the Blue Jays attempted to find a way back into the game.
Stevenson eventually added one final goal in the fourth quarter when Aylward scored at the 46:06 mark, putting the Mustangs ahead 4-0.
The Blue Jays continued to compete until the final whistle, but Stevenson’s defense proved too difficult to break through. The Mustangs finished with an 18-8 advantage in shots and held Etown without a goal for the first time this season.
Although the final score did not go in Etown’s favor, the game provided the Blue Jays with an opportunity to measure themselves against a nationally ranked opponent. Their early pressure showed that they could create chances against one of the stronger defenses on their schedule, while their second-half defensive effort prevented Stevenson from running away with the game.
The Blue Jays ended the contest with a 3-2 record and will look to use the experience against Stevenson as they continue through the season.
Etown will travel to Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday for an 11 a.m. matchup, looking to get back into the win column and continue building on its promising start to the season.
