Eagles End One Goal Down to #22 Cardinals
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Juniata field hockey team stayed within striking distance of #22 Catholic University of America, losing 2-1 in D.C. on Saturday afternoon.
Brittney McMullen was key in keeping the scoreline close, totaling 13 saves from 15 shots on goal, the most saves McMullen has made in a single game in her career.
Catholic started the game in full control, generating five shots and five penalty corners in the first period to force two saves from McMullen and a blocked shot.
Three minutes into the second period, the Cardinals opened the scoring by using a penalty corner. The corner was played to a Catholic player 15 yards out at the center of the field and fired into the net to the right of McMullen on the second touch.
Juniata quickly responded within three minutes with an equalizer from Sierra Rossman off Juniata's first penalty corner of the afternoon. The penalty corner was played to Colleen Creneti for a shot from a distance and fired toward goal. The initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper but deflected to an unmarked Rossman at the near post, who tapped the ball into the net.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, a penalty shot was conceded three minutes later and buried into the bottom-left corner. Juniata responded once again off the goal, but they couldn't draw level this time. In the 26th minute, Juniata generated another penalty corner, as Ross hit the post with her shot, then a Caitlin Steffie shot was blocked by the Catholic defense. The Cardinals generated three shots in the final two minutes, forcing two more McMullen saves heading into halftime.
The third period saw only three total shots, all from the Cardinals, who forced McMullen into two more saves. The Cardinals continued to push for insurance goals with ten total shots in the fourth period, as McMullen made her final five saves of the day.
Juniata ended the game outshot 28-4.
Juniata is back at Knox Stadium on Wednesday as they play host to Washington & Jefferson College for a 7:00 pm start.