The AU field hockey team, currently ranked seventh in the nation, bounced back after a tough 3-0 loss to the University of Maryland Terrapins with a 6-0 home win over the Bucknell University Bison Oct. 23
The Terrapins had just ended the Eagles’ 12-game win streak after being shut out by UMD and needed a win in Patriot League play to stay ahead of Lafayette in the standings.
“It was very important for us to get back on track,” Head Coach Steve Jennings said.
AU dominated play in the first half, taking nine shots to Bucknell’s one, but struggled to capitalize, finding the back of the net just once off a flick from freshman Lotte van de Mierop 25 minutes into the game.
“[We struggled with] the finishing because we had a few [shots] hit the post,” van de Mierop said.
Although they had plenty of opportunities, the Eagles were unable to finish, missing towards the near post several times giving Bucknell goalie, Sarah Zargarpour, a break. The Bucknell defense was solid throughout the first, shutting down AU chances and Zargarpour was solid in net, saving three shots, while watching five go wide.
The Eagles failed to capitalize on four penalty corners, letting the ball get cleared out immediately three out of four times.
“We were pretty careless with some of our shooting chances,” Jennings said. “We were just really sloppy overall, even though we generated a lot of pressure.”
AU continued to struggle until 16 minutes into the second half, when freshman Shelly Montgomery was able to drive down the left baseline and score at the far post. After that, the floodgates opened and the Eagles pounded shot after shot at Zargarpour, scoring five times in 15 minutes.
“Every time we get a goal it boosts the confidence and everyone gets a little more energetic,” Montgomery said.
Sophomore Gina Hoffmann followed Montgomery’s shot just four minutes later, sweeping a goal to the left post off a penalty corner, assisted by senior Kirstin Gebhart and junior Natalie Ellenberger. It was Gebhart’s 12th assist on the season.
Just a minute later, senior Anne van Erp deflected a shot from Constanza Palma into the top of the net, bringing the score to 4-0.
Sophomore Jenn Bradley took off on a breakaway down the field and collected her own rebound off the post, poking the ball into the open net.
Bucknell’s Rachel Misko was given a yellow card in the 62nd minute and Montgomery put the finishing touches on the win a minute later, gobbling up a rebound and putting the ball past the keeper to the left post.
AU’s defense showed its continued dominance in the game, shutting down Bucknell’s attack, giving up just two shots the entire game. The Eagles’ goalkeeper, senior Hannah Weitzman faced nothing in her area and earned her fifth shutout of the year.
“We want shutouts,” Jennings said. “We want shutouts against everybody we play. We want to make it incredibly hard for them to get any scoring chances.”
The Eagles ended the game with 16 shots to Bucknell’s two, and eight penalty corners to the Bison’s one.
AU will wrap up its regular season on Saturday Oct. 30 against Lafayette College in a game that will decide the Patriot League regular season champion. The winner will earn home field advantage for the Patriot League playoffs.
Sports@theeagleonline.com
