The Elizabethtown College women’s field hockey team has continued their winning streak with another win this past Saturday against Widener University. Saturday was not only Homecoming but also Senior Day for the team. Senior Lindy Hamp described how the special day “certainly created more adrenaline, especially with packed bleachers and a cheering crowd. But we come out to play hard for every game and always go for the win.”
 Playing hard is exactly what they did. 11 minutes into the first half, first-year Jacki Hikes was the first to score after sophomore Kaylee Werner and senior Nadine Yunginger set up the play. Eight minutes later, Hikes scored again, giving the Blue Jays a solid lead. However, Hikes was not the only star of the game. Hikes’ second goal was made possible by Yunginger moving the ball along, giving Yunginger her 16th assist of the season.
 This was Yunginger’s fifth multi-assist game of the season, putting her on level with Etown field hockey’s single season and career assist leaders. Yunginger is tied with Ira R. Herr Athletic Hall of Fame member Sherri Adie Robinson for the program’s single season record along with Maggie Nelis for Etown’s career record. Yunginger has had a total of 13 assists in her last seven games and she has recorded at least one assist in all of them.
Widener began to come alive near the end of the first half. Olivia Burgese took a shot from the top of the circle that was then tipped in past Etown’s keeper Hamp by Katie Ferguson in the final 10 seconds, leaving the score 2-1 at halftime.
However, the Jays were determined to keep a comfortable lead. Sophomore Kendra Hudson scored her sixth goal of the season at the 46:45 mark with help from Hikes. Overall, the game was filled with action as the Blue Jays kept on the offensive for most of the game. The Jays fired 27 shots where Widener fired a total of six. Sophomore Taylor Alwine took more shots by herself than Widener overall with a total of nine shots. Hikes was not far behind with a total of five shots. Hamp had two saves.
 Hamp was one of the eight seniors recognized this past Saturday. The other seniors were Yunginger, Erin Meanix, Amara Dell, Casey Fletcher, Emily Butler, Kelly Van Clief and Samantha Earle.
The 3-1 game was a great game for and is the team’s sixth consecutive win. It seems like the No. 18 Blue Jays are unstoppable these days. When asked what their secret is, sophomore Emily Mason said, “[It is] playing together as a team. We feed off of each other’s energy and continuously encourage each other.” Let’s hope the Blue Jays continue that strategy, because it is definitely working for them.
The Blue Jays’ next game was Oct. 24 against Lebanon Valley College. This game determined if the Jays will have home field advantage in playoffs. Before the game, sophomore Andrea Keady said Lebanon Valley “is a good team and it will be a tough game.” However, junior Carly Shrader said the Jays expect to win and want to have the home field advantage so their fans can support them on their own turf.  
However, the Jays were not able to capitalize on this opportunity and suffered a 1-2 loss. Butler put Etown in the lead early in the game, but in the second half, the Dutchmen were able to pull ahead with goals from Lyndee Sheaffer and Bridget Monighan. Etown had its chances, but LVC goalie Chloe Baro was up to the task, and she recorded six saves on the evening.
The Blue Jays are now third in the Commonwealth Conference standings with a 6-2 conference record. Therefore, Etown play at LVC next week in their first playoff game. The Jays still have one more home game Friday against Salisbury.