EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The East Stroudsburg field hockey team used another fourth quarter surge to fuel a 4-1 win over Manfield on Wednesday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors got on the board first this time, with the opening goal coming off a penalty corner in the first quarter. Alex Eagles received a pass from the top of the circle, firing a shot towards a crowd in front of the net. Puck de Ruiter got her stick on the low-driven shot, redirecting it to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead halfway through the frame.
- Despite the opening goal, Mansfield played up to East Stroudsburg's level and responded late in the second quarter. Off a penalty corner in the final minute, Sydney Pope made the initial save off a shot from Ella du Plessis, but Amanda Duke cleaned up the rebound to even the score going into halftime.
- The third quarter was a stalemate, with just one penalty corner going to East Stroudsburg and one shot on goal for either side. The Mountaineers had the first chance seven minutes in, but Pope made a save on Melanie Esh and kicked the rebound out of danger.
- de Ruiter was pressing for a second tally the entire quarter, coming close on a couple of looks late in the period. de Ruiter got positioning before firing a shot inside the circle towards the net at a crowd, but this one was blocked and swept away. Later on, she took a low angle shot that Lydia Miller kicked aside to keep the game tied going into the fourth quarter.
- Four minutes into the fourth, the dam broke for East Stroudsburg. Emma Friend got possession inside the circle, spinning around and passing to Elaiana Rivera-Lagalla. Outside the right post, Rivera-Lagalla centered it to an open Minke Klijn, who had a tap-in to give the Warriors the lead.
- Klijn's day wasn't done after the go-ahead tally, as she gave the Warriors an insurance goal later in the period. Backing down her defender, Klijn faked going down the alley before spinning back inside, finishing with a shot past Miller with 3:38 left.
- With the game secured, the Warriors got on the board one last time in the final minute. Emma Friend drove down the right side, drawing a couple defenders and opening a passing lane to Maddie Moline. Moline immediately shot it, trickling over the goal line with 38 seconds remaining.
GAME NOTES
- Alex Eagles recorded a defensive save in the 12th minute of the game off a shot from du Plessis, marking the first defensive save for East Stroudsburg of the season. It's also Eagles's first of her career.
- Klijn's four-point day moved her to 32 points on the season with 12 goals and eight assists, good for third place in the conference.
UP NEXT
The Warriors are 14-2 with a 5-2 in-conference record and riding a seven-game win streak. East Stroudsburg hits the road for its final away game of the regular season, taking on the No. 10 Millersville Marauders at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
