The Elizabethtown College field hockey team moved their overall record to 5-3 with a 2-0 victory over Arcadia University at Wolf Field on Saturday, Sept. 28. Not only did the victory give the Blue Jays a head start in the Commonwealth Conference, but it also gave Etown a 6-0 all-time record against the Knights.
Junior Marlena Johnson stopped the only two shots she faced against the Knights. The first of the shots came early in the first half, while Arcadia dominated early possession in the contest with two corner shots. Even with the ball in Etown’s defensive end, Arcadia was unable to capitalize on their shots, thanks in large part to Johnson and junior Emily Mason.
After Arcadia’s early possession victory, the ball was on the Blue Jays’ offensive end for the majority of the game. Arcadia goalie Brittany Hodson stopped shots off the corner from sophomore Alyssa Aichele and junior Taylor Alwine. Hodson ended the contest with 12 saves on 19 shots.
However, the Knights could not hold the Blue Jays off the board for long as first-year Nicole Leaf scored her first career goal midway through the first half off a corner pass from sophomore Jacki Hikes to give Etown the lead. Hikes continued her dominance by controlling the play on the offensive side and helped the Blue Jays win the corner battle 15-5. With the assist, Hikes recorded her 19th point of the season.
The Blue Jays picked up where they had left off in the first half, continuing to control time of possession through the second period.
Sophomore Andrea Keady made it three-for-three on penalty strokes on the year, scoring her sixth goal of the season, which put the Blue Jays up 2-0. Keady was rewarded for her performance this past week with Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week honors. This is the first time Keady has received this honor.
The team then traveled to Huntingdon, Pa. to play Juniata College in a non-conference match. The game ended with a score of 4-1, with goals scored by Keady, Hikes. The victory brought the team’s overall record to 6-3.
Keady continued to build off her Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week honors with three goals in the contest. Alwine assisted on two of Keady’s goals to help get the Blue Jays on the board.
Keady currently leads the Commonwealth Conference in total points, goals and goals per game. With her assist, Hikes is now second in assists and assists per game.
Senior Casey Fletcher is also leading the conference in game-winning goals with three on the season.
Etown’s first three goals were only separated by a little over three minutes, helping the Blue Jays to an early lead in the first half that they would not relinquish.
As a team, the Blue Jays now lead the Commonwealth Conference in goals on the season and goals per game after the victory. The team is currently second in assists.
Johnson played well in cage for the Etown yet again, stopping five of the six shots she faced during the contest. The was goalie’s sixth win on the season. Johnson is also doing well statistically as she is currently second in the conference in goals against average and is tied for first in shutouts.
This was the second straight game in which the Etown defense held their opponent to under ten shots in the 70 minute contest.
The Blue Jays next game will be at home against in-conference opponent Albright College on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Etown looks to get their second win and stay undefeated in conference play against a Lions team that is 5-5 and also undefeated in the Commonwealth going into the contest. The contest will be played on Wolf Field at 4 p.m.
