Photo by Robbie Isaacson, Photography Editor
By Miles DeRosa, Staff Writer
Susquehanna Field Hockey won all three of their games last week, beating Keystone 1-0 on Wednesday Oct. 20 in La Plume, taking down Catholic 2-0 on Saturday, Oct. 23 in Selinsgrove to clinch a spot in the Landmark conference playoffs, and finishing the week by beating Concordia Wisconsin 5-0 at home on Sunday, Oct. 26.
The River Hawks continued their ball-control style of play Wednesday, allowing just two shots on goal all game. Sophomore forward Ashley Schreffler gave the River Hawks a lead at the end of the first quarter. The goal came off a corner. After the insert, sophomore midfielder Katie Bucher rifled a pass through the box to senior forward Cassie West, who tipped it to Schreffler for the open look. It was Schreffler’s fourth game of the season.
After that the Susquehanna defense got to what it’s been doing all year, interrupting attacks before they could even start. Susquehanna held Keystone to just three corners and the strong defensive effort made the lead stand up. The River Hawks had several other opportunities, with 13 corners and 20 shots on goal, but couldn’t find a way to punch another one through.
Susquehanna won another defensive battle on Saturday, holding the Catholic Cardinals to just one shot on goal, and only generating six themselves. Both teams were fighting for playoff spots and the intensity showed on the field. That and the rain that came down throughout the game made for a physical, chippy affair.
The River Hawks started the game aggressive, sending attackers and long passes deep into the Cardinal zone, though none of these hail mary attacks hit the mark. Most passes skidded past on the wet turf, too quick for the River Hawk attackers to intercept. About five minutes into the first quarter though, one finally did, and it led to an early corner attempt, which Susquehanna didn’t pass up.
Senior forward Sam Banks found first-year defender Kari Schmidt at the top of the box for an open look, and Schmidt rocketed the ball through a crowd of defenders to the back of the net. After the goal, Susquehanna toned down their aggressive offensive approach, opting instead to trust their defense, and Catholic responded.
The Cardinals immediately picked up the pace offensively. They started going right at the Susquehanna defense and generated four corner attempts in the first half. Those corners only lead to two shots though, and none of them found the mark. Susquehanna showed their defensive ability to bend but not break. Even getting the ball into the zone doesn’t not guarantee a shot on goal.
In the second quarter the River Hawks would add on as Schmidt picked up an assist on the second goal of the game, as she found senior defender Annalee Smith on the post off a corner, and Smith was able to convert from close range.
The second half was the same story we’ve told all year, the defense made the lead stand up. They allowed junior goaltender Mackenzie Bross to face just two more shots. The defense in this game was a team effort. Forwards would fall back to help into the defensive zone. The first priority, entering the half with a two-goal advantage, seemed to be preventing the Cardinals from getting the ball over the midfield line. When Susquehanna has been dialed in like this defensively, there hasn’t been an answer for them.
This win clinched Susquehanna’s spot in the Landmark Conference playoff. If the season were to end today, they would be tied for the third seed with Catholic. Depending on how the seeding shakes out, it’s likely the River Hawks will have to play either Moravian or Scranton in the first round, two teams that have gotten the better of the River Hawks this year.
On Sunday, the River Hawks made a statement, beating Concordia Wisconsin 5-0. This game was a practice in domination, and it answered some of the offensive questions heading into the playoffs. Susquehanna scored in every quarter, including two in the fourth.
The first goal came off a rebound that bounced right to the stick of Smith, who put it back for her fourth goal of the season. The River Hawks were sending strong pressure throughout the game, and it didn’t let up after the first goal.
First-year midfielder Rebecca Ripans found the back of the net in the second quarter. A shot went up, it was blocked, Ripans corralled the rebound and shot again. Her first attempt was blocked but Concordia Wisconsin was unable to clear the rebound, and Ripans again attempted a shot, this one finding the mark. Ripans would score again in the third off an assist from first-year midfielder Sophia Prata. It was Prata’s first career assist.
Smith scored again to open the scoring in the fourth, and Bucher capped it off by knifing through Concordia’s defense, shooting from the top of the box, and scoring.
“Over the past few weeks, we have been working hard on productivity on the offensive side of the ball,” Ripans said. “We have been very good at getting shots and corners and are turning more of these great opportunities into goals.”
In addition to the strong offensive showing, Susquehanna held Concordia to no shots and just one corner throughout the game. If Susquehanna can finish their season strong and bring this level of play with them into the conference finals, they’ll have a legitimate shot at the title.
