Mount Olive splits pair of field hockey matches

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. –Mount Olive split a pair of field hockey contests to start the 2023 campaign recently.

In a top-10 matchup to start the year, the 2022 National Runner-up No. 2 Shippensburg defeated the No. 9 Trojans by a 4-1 margin in non-conference action on Friday afternoon. Mount Olive bounced back the following day with a 3-1 victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

The Trojans (1-1) face Lincoln Memorial in their home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 12 p.m. at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex.

In the first quarter of the match with No. 2 Shippensburg, the Trojans came out hard as they scored the first goal of the nationally-ranked contest. With a cross into the circle, senior Avery Congleton found sophomore Nikki Bos to score at the 3:10 mark, 1-0. Soon after, Shippensburg responded to level the match 1-1. The remainder of the quarter went scoreless. Going into the second quarter, the Raiders found the back of the cage at the 19:47 mark, 2-1. As both teams competed, the match went back and forth, and Mount Olive trailed by one going at the break.

In the third quarter, UMO was able to hold the game to 2-1 until the 38th minute of the match. After being awarded a penalty corner, Shippensburg scored its third goal of the match, 3-1. In the last two minutes of the quarter, the Raiders earned another penalty corner. After the initial save, SU scored on a rebound for its final goal, 4-1. In the fourth quarter, the Trojans outplayed the Raiders as they held an 8-0 shot advantage over Shippensburg. The Mount Olive offense kept knocking at the Raider door as they earned three penalty corners and registered shots on all attempts.

Senior goalkeeper Alanna Barrett collected seven saves after facing 11 shots on goal in 60 minutes of play.

Shippensburg only held a 14-12 shot advantage over the Trojans and a 5-3 edge in penalty corners.

In the first quarter of the Saturday match, IUP was first to score a goal at the 10:43 mark, 1-0. After the goal by the Crimson Hawks, UMO controlled the match as the team in green kept attacking the IUP circle. At the 13:36 mark, sophomore Nikki Bos found freshman Rosie Migounoff by the stroke mark. With a fast shot by Migounoff, the ball flew past the keeper to level the match, 1-1. In the second quarter, the Trojans cotrolled possession as they put another goal on the scoreboard. Taking the ball to the baseline, sophomore Candice Wainschel took advantage of her space and delivered a backhanded shot that found the back of the cage, 2-1. Nearly five minutes later, UMO took advantage of a fast break. With a perfect through pass from Migounoff, junior Amber Dercksen deflected the ball into the cage at the 24:43 mark, 3-1.

In the second half of the match, IUP tried its best to level the playing field. With four penalty corner opportunities by the Crimson Hawks, the Trojan defense shut out every corner. Mount Olive held IUP to only four shots in the entirety of the second half. With the final seconds counting down, UMO finished the match 3-1 and earned its first win in Pennsylvania.

Freshman goalkeeper Mia Neckritz collected seven saves after facing eight shots on goal in 60 minutes of play.

Mount Olive held a shot advantage 12-11 and both teams had six opportunities on penalty corners.