On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Elizabethtown College field hockey team lost 3-0 against the Messiah College Falcons. This marks the second loss out of eight games for the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays had high hopes for the game despite the loss. “I think it’s going to be an amazing game,” senior Amara Dell said. “The big games we’ve had we’ve gone into with a great attitude. We’ve just gone into each game expecting to do our best.” While the team did wind up with a loss, they did go into the game playing at their best defensively. They allowed the Falcons the second fewest number of goals and shot attempts this season.
During the game, the Falcons put themselves ahead quickly with a goal to make the game 1-0. The team then played off this momentum, allowing them to eventually score two more goals, one coming four minutes before the half and the other at the 59th minute of play. Some noteworthy Blue Jays during the game were sophomore Taylor Alwine and first-year Lisa Foose, who both took shots on goal against Messiah.
The only other loss prior to the game versus Messiah was the game on Sept. 8 against Catholic University in which the Blue Jays lost 1-0. Dell attributes that loss to the fact that they were outplayed on that day despite the team doing the best they could. “We couldn’t really all come together in that game,” she said. This could be similar to what occurred during the game against Messiah.
Whatever it is that didn’t allow the team to come ahead during the game, it shouldn’t be attributed to a lack of skill from any players or to poor coaching. The team works very well together, as indicated by the six wins this year, and they are led by a dedicated coach, Brandy Michaels. “[Our coach] has been bringing a lot of new ideas and drills and workouts to practice. We never know what to expect, and she has a lot of great knowledge,” Dell said.
The Jays then had to move on and look ahead to yesterday’s game against the York College Spartans. “They’re always a tough game. I don’t think this year will be any different,” sophomore Selene Jones said. Although the Spartans are doing worse this year with a 4-3 record, in this game York came out on top with a close 3-2 victory over Etown.
The Spartans were first on the board 16 minutes into the game with a goal from Madi Wilt. It didn’t take long for the Blue Jays to respond, and senior Nadine Yunginger was able to capitalize on a penalty stroke 25 minutes into the game, evening the score 1-1.
A mere 30 seconds after Yunginger’s penalty stroke, Etown scored yet again. This time Alwine hit the ball into the middle of the circle, and after deflecting off the goalie, sophomore Kendra Hudson was able to register her third goal of the season and put the Blue Jays up 2-1.
However, York was able to switch the momentum just two and a half minutes before halftime with a goal from Katie Petrillo. At the half, the score was even at 2-2.
After a barrage of shots from the Spartans at the beginning of the second half, the Blue Jays had quite a few chances to overtake York. However, in the last few minutes of play, York was again putting pressure on senior goalie Lindy Hamp and the rest of the Blue Jay defense. York’s Sandee Reich snuck in the game’s final goal off a deflection from Hamp, putting York ahead 3-2 with less than a minute remaining. The Blue Jays look to avenge this loss against new conference opponent Hood College on Saturday at home.