August 29, 2014

Second Half Rally Lifts Field Hockey to 2-1 Season Opening Win

CARLISLE, PA- Trailing 1-0 going into the second half, the Juniata field hockey team rallied to scored twice to defeat host Dickinson 2-1 on Friday afternoon at Biddle Field. Sara Spencer (Florence, NJ/Florence Township Memorial) came off the bench to score both times for the Eagles. The two goals scored were the first of Spencer’s career.

CARLISLE, PA- Trailing 1-0 going into the second half, the Juniata field hockey team rallied to scored twice to defeat host Dickinson 2-1 on Friday afternoon at Biddle Field. Sarah Spencer (Florence, NJ/Florence Township Memorial) came off the bench to score both times for the Eagles. The two goals scored were the first of Spencer’s career.

The Eagles were victorious despite being outshot 19-8 in the contest and tallying only five shots on goal. The Red Devils came up firing in the first half and registered the game’s first six shots within six minutes. Goalie Shelby Miller (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts) came up big with seven saves in just over 22 minutes.

Dickinson was granted a penalty stroke in the 25^th minute. Caroline Karwel’s attempt got over a diving Miller as the Red Devils took a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles equalized the score in the 49^th minute. Dickinson goalie Emily Fuss contested a shot and was drawn out of the cage. Spencer took advantage of the miscue and deposited the ball into the open goal to make it 1-1.

Juniata later had possession in the Red Devil zone in the 57^th minute and went ahead for good on Spencer’s score off an assist from Tori Boser (Allentown, PA/Parkland). The Eagle defense clamped down in the final 12:50 of the game as it blocked two shots and Julianne Jones (Middleburg, PA/Midd-West) turned away a Dickinson shot with 5:17 left in the contest. Jones finished with four saves in 47:56.

“We came out slow in the first half but it was a good battle for 70 minutes,” noted head coach Caroline Gillich. “It was an exciting game and overall it was a good team effort.”

Juniata returns to action on Thursday when it plays host to Wilkes. Game time from Knox Stadium will be at 7 p.m.