On Saturday afternoon, the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays field hockey team took on the Goucher University Gophers in their final home regular season matchup. Etown was on the outside looking into the playoffs a mere week prior to this matchup, sitting ninth before their impressive run. After various conference game victories, the Blue Jays sat sixth heading into the game, the last spot in the playoffs. Goucher has been sitting in the playoff race for a while, placing fifth heading into the matchup. With Lycoming College, Drew University, Goucher and Etown all tied up in the Landmark standings, and Wilkes only one game out of sixth place, it was anyone’s game for the final four spots in the playoffs.
Prior to the game, the three seniors for the Blue Jays were celebrated, with forward Drew Bridges, midfielder Rachel Troutman and midfielder Lillian Hoover walking out with their families while being cheered on by their friends and teammates. They received flowers courtesy of the coaching staff that were handed to the players by head coach Grace Hardy.
Goucher started the game out like a rocket, forcing various shots inside the D, leading to a foot from one of the Blue Jay defenders stopping a shot from going into the back of the net, forcing the referees to give the Gophers a penalty stroke inside the first four minutes. Junior defender Charlotte Bloom capitalized on the opportunity, slotting the shot into the top of the goal, giving the Gophers an early 1-0 lead. Etown continued to push offensively, trying to find opportunities towards the end of the first, but strong defense led by first-year midfielders Vivian Onunga and Laureen Otieno kept the Blue Jay attack at bay.
The second quarter kept both teams deadlocked at 1-0, with both teams playing well defensively with a limited amount of penalty corners and first-year goalkeeper Emma Dupes making two saves. Bridges got an opportunity to eliminate their deficit in the middle of the period, however, a late foul call by the officials wiped the goal away as Goucher led at the end of the half.
After the halftime break, Etown found their spark that the fans had seen over the past few Landmark Conference matchups. Bridges found an opportunity from a pass by junior midfielder Hannah Long who set up the pass for Bridges to net her 18th goal of the season in the blue and white, giving Etown some life after tying the game. The Blue Jays maintained on the attack, forcing the junior Gopher goalkeeper Katie Bloom to make six saves in the 15 minute quarter. Eager to get the lead back, Goucher capitalized on a counterattack as Otieno fed a pass to first-year defender Ava Barnes who put the shot in the back of the net with a mere five seconds remaining in the quarter.
Down 2-1, Etown put their foot on the gas early and tied the game up early in the fourth quarter, with Bridges scoring her 19th goal of the season, leading the Landmark Conference, and giving the Blue Jays the momentum they needed. With around four minutes to go, Long threaded a pass to sophomore midfielder Hailey Meyer, who gave Etown their first lead of the game as they led 3-2. Goucher tried to find a few more counterattacks before the end of regulation, however, Etown’s defense led by first-year defender Sydney Sinko and Troutman held on, as Etown secured at least fourth in the Landmark standings and a win over Goucher.
Bridges led the team with 11 shots, four on target and two goals in the contest. With her recent string of good performances, Bridges has been given the honor of Landmark Athlete of the Week. Long had three shots for the Blue Jays and two assists, totalling eight on the season, which is third in the Landmark Conference. Meyer had two shots on goal with one goal in the game and Dupes had six saves with two goals allowed.
The Blue Jays will move on to play in the playoffs against either the fifth or sixth seed based on their result against Moravian and the result of the Drew versus Scranton matchup, both on Oct. 29. The first round of the Landmark Conference Championships will be played on Nov. 1.
