EAST STROUDSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University field hockey team is headed to the NCAA Division II Semifinals for the fifth time in the last six seasons as the Warriors notched a 2-1 victory over Bentley on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
The Warriors (16-4) scored a pair of second half goals from seniors Celeste Veenstra and Morgan Mesenbrink and held off a late charge by the Falcons (14-6) to punch their ticket to the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. ESU moves on to face No. 1 seed and undefeated Shippensburg next Friday at Millersville.
The other semifinal matchup will feature Assumption and West Chester. The championship is scheduled to be played on Sunday, November 21 at 1 p.m. from Biemesderder Stadium.
Notables
- Sophomore Amy Supey (16-4) earned the victory despite having to make zero saves
- Veenstra found the back of the net in the third quarter for her team-high 11th goal of the season
- Mesenbrink added an insurance goal in the fourth quarter for her seventh of the year
- Juniors Nicole Krozser (2) and Lia Parker (5) each recorded an assist on the Warriors' goals
- ESU held the edge in total shots, 12-3, and shots on goal, 7-1
- The Warriors were granted six penalty corners compared to four for the Falcons
How it Happened
34:25 | Krozser forced the Falcons into turnover deep in their end, before taking the ball to the end line and sending in a pass that was redirected of the stick of Veenstra to put the Warriors out in front, 1-0.
48:18 | Following a foul by Bentley just outside their arc, Parker hammered a pass to Mesenbrink, who was standing alone right in front of the crease before jamming a shot into the back of the net to extend ESU's lead to 2-0.
51:56 | After the Warriors committed a foul inside their own defensive zone, the Falcons were awarded a penalty stroke with a chance to cut the Warriors' lead in half. Emily Crowell stepped up to take the stroke and beat Supey stick side to make the score 2-1.
Up Next
The Warriors advance to the semifinals to square off against Shippensburg on Friday, November 19 at 5 p.m. The game will be played in Millersville, Pa. at Biemesderfer Stadium.
