EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The ESU field hockey team closed out a three-game homestand with an emphatic 5-0 shutout against Mansfield in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon, improving to 3-0.
NOTABLES
- The Warriors had a pair of players finish with three points each, fifth-year midfielder Elaiana Rivera-Lagalla and freshman forward Emily Dobrowolski. Each had a goal and an assist, with Rivera-Lagalla finding the net for the first time this year after tallying four assists.
- Three other goal scorers found the back of the net for ESU, as junior forward Sydney Frantz, sophomore forward Lisa Pasman, and fifth-year back Bella Viruet helped drive the dominant performance over the Mountaineers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors controlled play from start to finish, getting on the board late in the first quarter. Frantz swept in a corner and hung out by the left post. After the ball made its way close to the net and a Mansfield defender tried to clear it off to the side, it landed right in front of Frantz, who was able to slam it home for the first goal 14 minutes into the game.
- ESU doubled its lead off another goal in the final minute of a frame, this time right before halftime. Rivera-Lagalla sent a ball down the right side of the field towards the corner, where Dobrowolski settled it. She weaved through waves of Mansfield defenders until she got in front of the net, beating the goalkeeper five-hole with just 24 seconds remaining.
- The Warriors piled on with three goals in a nine-minute span between the third and fourth quarters. ESU recorded another tally from a penalty corner, as junior back Alex Bandura fired a shot off to the left of the net. Viruet was in position for the redirect, sending the ball back in on target for the Warriors' third goal of the afternoon.
- Entering the final frame up 3-0, Rivera-Lagalla got her first goal of the year after assisting on four others. The Warriors got the ball near the goal, with a crowd fighting for possession next to the left post. After a couple of whacks at it by both teams, it came loose to the opposite side, where Rivera-Lagalla wound up with a backhand shot and buried it in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
- Completing her first career game with a goal and assist, Dobrowolski piled on with the pass that set up the final goal of the day for the Warriors. She drew two defenders to her along the goal line, finding Pasman open right next to her, as the sophomore scored her second goal of the year.
GAME NOTES
- ESU didn't allow Mansfield to register a shot on net all game, and kept them shotless through the first three quarters. Mansfield didn't attempt a shot until 46:42 into the game.
UP NEXT
The Warriors are on the road for their next three games, playing two this weekend. They'll start the trip against Adelphi, taking on the Panthers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Garden City, N.Y.
