WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson field hockey team earned a return trip to the Empire 8 tournament with a 6-0 shutout of Houghton on Senior Day at Cameron Stadium.
W&J's seventh win in a row, the longest streak since the Presidents rattled off 10-straight during the 2007 season, improves the team to 11-7 on the year and 5-3 in the E8. All three games of the E8 championship will be held at Ithaca.
If Stevens defeats Elmira on Saturday evening, W&J will be the fourth seed and play the host Bombers on Friday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. in the E8 semifinal, while a Ducks loss would make W&J the third seed and set up a re-match of last weekend's 2-1 win over St. John Fisher at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Laura O'Malley got the scoring started at the 13:00 mark, 1-0, when she scored off a
Rachel Buyan penalty corner.
Just 2:30 later,
Amanda Steffey established a new career high with her 13th goal of the season off her own rebound.
Claire Shaak's third goal of the season off a
Kelly Knisel assist extended the lead to 3-0 at 23:15 of the first half.
Alana Boyd added a fourth goal for the Presidents just 1:07 later when she stole a pass and drove through the circle for her fourth of the season.
The Presidents took a 5-0 lead into halftime thanks to a penalty stroke goal by
Allison Morrissey, her fifth of the year, with 6:01 left to play in the half.
Morrissey added her second goal of the game, and sixth of the season, in the 67th minute on an assist by Steffey.
The Presidents kept the Highlanders without a shot in the game, boasting a 28-0 advantage behind 23 first-half shots. Steffey took seven, while O'Malley posted four and
Lauren Brown and Knisel each fired three.
Morgan Brozena earned the shutout in goal, despite not facing a shot. She is five saves away from second place on the W&J career saves list with 215.
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