The Elizabethtown College field hockey team netted their first win of the season this past Saturday, Sept. 7 in an exciting victory that came down to the wire. The Blue Jays bested the St. John Fisher Cardinals and protected their home of Wolf Field, winning 4-3. It was a statement win for Etown, coming back from down two goals with less than half of the fourth quarter to go to earn a comeback victory.
This win also marks the first career win for young first-year head coach, Grace Hardy, who only found out she would be at the helm of the Blue Jays program a little over a month ago. Hardy, a 2022 Etown graduate, was able to rally her troops going into the final quarter of play and steal this momentum building win.
The Blue Jays offense was a bright spot in this one. After failing to score a single goal in their first two games, the team pushed the issue on the offensive end and exploded for four goals. Second-year midfielder Hannah Long, third-year midfielder Rachel Troutman, fourth-year forward Riley Stephan and third-year forward Drew Bridges all found the back of the net, capping off a strong performance that included 11 shots on goal.
Etown found themselves in a hole early. St. John Fisher took the lead within the first minute of play, and about six minutes later, it was a 2-0 lead. However, the Blue Jays stayed competitive, finally getting one by the opposing goalie in the final minute of the first quarter to inch back into things.
It was a strong second quarter by the Etown defense and fourth-year goalie Angelina Giglio-Tos, as the Blue Jays swarmed the Cardinal’s offense, blocking shots and making saves. Defense proved to be a key factor in leading to offense, and the offense finally broke through by way of a penalty goal from Troutman to even the score heading into the second half.
However, the tables turned in the third quarter. The Cardinals’ defense was a brick wall, hindering all Blue Jay offensive opportunities. Two minutes into the half, they would find themselves back in front and hold that lead going into the fourth.
In the make or break quarter, the Blue Jays proved to be resilient. Things looked dreary as the quarter moved along, but the ball finally rolled in Etown’s favor with a little under two minutes to play. Stephan knotted up the score, slotting one past the goalie off an assist from second-year forward Mia Fino. Shortly thereafter, it was Bridges who would be the hero. With just a minute left to play in regulation, the starting forward unleashed her fourth shot on goal and this one would find its way into the net, giving Etown the victory.
This upcoming weekend, the Blue Jays will get back into action on the road against Albright College on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4 p.m.
