WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College field hockey team secured a crucial victory over the visiting Keuka College Wolves Saturday afternoon in Empire 8 action at Cameron Stadium.
The win improves the Presidents to 5-3 in E8 play and 6-8 overall. The victory, which came on Senior Day, helps W&J clinch a spot in the upcoming six-team Empire 8 Championship Tournament. Kueka drops to 3-5 in the conference and 4-12 overall.
After a scoreless first quarter, both teams found the back of the cage in the second quarter. W&J took the lead in the 28th minute of play after a penalty corner set up a score.
Camryn Cresci (Wilmington, Del. / Alexis I. DuPont) tallied her sixth goal of the season to put W&J in front 1-0.
Lily Giering (Reading, Pa. / Exeter Township) tallied an assist on the Cresci goal. The lead was short-lived as Keuka fired back quickly, using a breakaway goal from Makaela Mills tie the score at 1-1.
Neither team was able to find the back of the cage in the third quarter, making it reminiscent of the scoreless first quarter of play.
W&J did what they needed to do in the fourth quarter. The Presidents took control with three goals over the final 15 minutes. The first fourth quarter goal came from Giering, as she was set by
Hailey Wachowiak (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) just after a penalty corner opportunity. After a pair of cards forced Keuka to play two players down, W&J took advantage, as Giering found the back of the cage to strengthen W&J's lead to 3-1.
Cresci helped W&J take advantage of another man-up advantage. Cresci scored off a pass from
Lindsey Blount (Lockport, N.Y. / Starpoint), which wrapped up a 4-1 victory for the Presidents.
Anastasia Godat (Baltimore, Md./Concordia Preparatory School) registered three saves to earn the victory in goal.
Ella Phillips (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck),
Grace Kirwin (Philadelphia, Pa. / Abington) and
Bailey Miller (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) backed Godat's strong effort. Giering's two-goal and one assist day paced the offense. Giering now has nine goals in her rookie campaign. Giering Additionally, Cresci finished with two goals as well to push her season total to seven.
W&J held a 21-8 (14-4 shots on goal) advantage in shots and a decisive 16-9 margin in penalty corners.
W&J honored its trio of seniors,
Madison Devine (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township),
Lindsey Diggan (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and
Lina Crowley (Potomac, Md./Bullis School), prior to the match.
The win allowed the Presidents to clinch a spot in the Empire 8 conference tournament, which will be held on Nov. 2-4-6.
W&J travels into New York for their last matchup of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 29 against Houghton. The match will have Empire 8 Tournament seeding implications. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
