Box Score |
Photo Gallery
EAST STROUDSBURG - Senior back
Sydney McCarthy and senior forward
Melanie Shambaugh scored the goals and senior goalkeeper
Halle Frisco made eight saves, including a penalty stroke in the second half, as No. 2-ranked East Stroudsburg University knocked off No. 1 Shippensburg, 2-0, in non-conference field hockey on Wednesday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
ESU (3-0) improves to 4-0 in "1 vs. 2" match-ups in the last three seasons, and played in its third straight "1 vs. 2" meeting with Shippensburg (2-1) in regular season competition.
Wednesday's game also marked a match-up of the last two NCAA Division II national champions, with ESU winning its first-ever title in 2015 and Shippensburg emerging in 2016, including a 2-1 win at ESU in the first round.
McCarthy, last week's PSAC Athlete of the Week and NFHCA DII Offensive Player of the Week with a goal and four assists in a 2-0 start, scored the opening goal with 8:12 left in the first half.
Shambaugh doubled the lead just over 10 minutes into the second half, scoring on an assist from junior midfielder
Karisa Turner after a penalty corner. Shambaugh has scored in each of ESU's first three games.
Frisco made six of her eight saves in the second half, and denied Jazmin Petrantonio on a penalty stroke with 15:12 remaining to maintain ESU's 2-0 lead.
Ally Mooney had two saves for Shippensburg, which held the edge in shots (16-9) and penalty corners (13-6), including 13-5 and 9-4, respectively, in the second half.
McCarthy, a 2016 All-PSAC second team selection in the midfield before moving to center back this fall, added her second defensive save of the season for ESU to go with her two goals and four assists through the first three games.
Last year, No. 1-ranked ESU won 1-0 (OT) at No. 2 Shippensburg in September, and No. 2 ESU prevailed 2-1 (2OT) vs. No. 1 Shippensburg at Whitenight Field in October.
The Warriors were ranked No. 1 when they beat No. 2 Millersville for the PSAC championship in 2015.
ESU also had its fifth win vs. the NFHCA's No. 1 team since ranking data is available from 2004, including its third against a No. 1-ranked Ship team.
The Warriors have won four of their last five home games vs. the top-ranked team in DII.
ESU improves to 7-34 all-time vs. defending national champions and won its second straight, following the PSAC championship game victory vs. Millersville in 2015.
ESU is now 39-14 with a top-three ranking in the NFHCA DII poll since 2004, including its three wins this season.
The Warriors will meet Shippensburg again in three weeks (Sept. 27) in central Pennsylvania for their second PSAC game of the year.
ESU hosts IUP in a non-conference game on Saturday at 1 p.m., the fourth of a five-game homestand to open the 2017 season.