Juniata Field Hockey Looks to Upset No. 12 TCNJ

By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Juniata College field hockey team is finally home after spending three games on the road.  The Eagles face No. 12 The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 3 p.m.

Juniata started the season strong at 3-0, but the road has not been kind.  After outscoring opponents 9-4 to start the year, the offense has stalled recently.  A homecoming might be just what the Eagles need to pull out of the slump.

"Definitely excited to return to our home turf," said head coach Caroline Gillich.  "We got a great start to our season.  We are able to hit our pace, make our marks, and achieve our goals on our home turf.  But we struggled a little bit on the road.  We're a young team.  There are going to be some ups and downs as we progress through the season."

Undefeated in Knox Stadium, Juniata has outshot and outscored opponents, averaging three goals and nine shots per game. The defense has allowed only three total goals and boasts a .786 save percentage on the turf between goalkeepers Shelby Miller (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) and Julianne Jones (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West).

"The great thing about having two goalkeepers is that there is always one, if not two, on any given day to step up and be there for the team and have a great day," said Gillich.  "The team adjusted really well to having two goalkeepers behind them.  It's not every team that can do that.  Some teams need a single voice behind them, but our team seems to flourish no matter who's behind them.  Which just shows me the amount of confidence our team has in our goalkeepers."

TCNJ will be the second ranked team the Eagles face this week and the Lions offense will be formidable.  They have scored 13 goals in just three games off a staggering 66 shots attempted.  Over two-thirds of TCNJ's shots have been on goal. 

"Our attack is our first line of defense," said Gillich on the plan to wrangle in the Lions.  "It really takes a team defense.  It's not up to four people, or five people, or six people to slow a team down.  It's up to an entire team, all working together.  The great thing about playing an opponent who may be achieving at a higher level than you, is that it usually lifts your game to a higher level."

The Lions have been ranked every time the teams have met. They lead the all-time series 3-0. Last year, the Eagles defense fought tough against a then No. 1 TCNJ team that put up 13 shots, allowing just three goals in a 3-0 loss.

"In field hockey, it's any given day," said Gillich.  "Any given day this is a game that is usually a one goal game.  So long as we hold them tight.  They have been a team in the past that has been able to finish well.  But I feel that we have a top notch defense and great goalkeepers.  If we can play a complete team defense, if we can get the whole team to buy into the idea that we need to be on defense together and be on attack together in close layers, we'll be able to contain them."

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