Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Pat McDermott
The Susquehanna Field hockey team concluded their season this past Saturday in the Landmark Conference championship game against Scranton, with a final score of 2-1.
The loss capped Susquehanna’s season at 9-13, while Scranton finished with a 17-2 overall record and earned their second landmark championship in a row.
The River Hawks entered the game as the sixth seed after beating Wilkes in the first round of the playoffs, and Catholic in a game that went into double overtime. This game marked the fourth consecutive year where Susquehanna and Scranton faced each other in the championship game.
In the early stages of the game, Scranton was able to get multiple quality offensive opportunities with eight shots in the first period. Susquehanna’s defense stood on their head, not letting up any goals in the first period of play.
Scranton was able to put one in early in the second quarter after Shana Goldsmith converted off of a penalty corner, while Susquehanna was struggling to maintain possession of the ball.
Susquehanna’s defense was able to hold up in the remainder of the second quarter, with key defensive efforts from senior goalie Taytum Lombardi.
The third quarter brought more trouble for the River Hawks, as Goldsmith scored her second goal of the game early in the period. Keys picked up another assist on the play, extending Scranton’s lead to 2-0.
The River Hawks continued searching for a goal throughout the final period, but Scranton’s defense prevented them from cutting into the lead for most of the quarter.
Junior forward Jada Thompson broke through for Susquehanna towards the end of the game. Thompson scored off an assist from junior Kiara Koeller, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Scranton outshot Susquehanna 21-8, including an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal. Lombardi finished with nine saves, while the River Hawks earned six penalty corners compared to Scranton’s nine.
Despite the loss, Susquehanna finished its postseason with two upset victories over higher-seeded opponents. The River Hawks defeated No. 3 Wilkes 1-0 in the opening round before taking down No. 2 Catholic 3-2 in double overtime.
Although a disappointing ending for the team, their amazing run in the playoffs along with memorable moments during the regular season should not be forgotten.