Senior captain attacker Irene Schickhardt's two second-half goals and junior goalie Alyssa Poorman's eight saves powered the 18th ranked AU field hockey team past Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in Tuesday's NCAA play-in game 2-0 and made it back into the first round of the NCAA tournament after missing the cutoff in 2007.
With staunch defense on both sides of the playing field, the scoreboard stayed empty for the entire first half. While neither team could find the back of the goalie box, Lock Haven kept AU fans on the edge of their seats as they outshot the Eagles 10-8 and recorded five penalty corners to the Eagles' three.
Poorman's eight saves, including a near goal in the first half that silenced cheering Lock Haven fans, anchored the Eagles' defense. Eagle defenders Anne-Meike DeWiljes and Anne van Erp supported Poorman by keeping Lock Haven's attack at bay and by pushing the ball up field to Schickhardt and the rest of the Eagles' offense.
In the second half, the Eagles' offense caught fire, as they out shot Lock Haven 12-4 and recorded six penalty corners to Lock Haven's two. Schickhardt's scored her first goal within the first three minutes of the half off a penalty corner inserted by van Erp and assisted by DeWiljes. Three minutes later, Schickhardt found the back of the goal again, rebounding the ball off a shot from junior forward Savannah Graybill.
Schickhardt's offensive prowess, combined with sophomore forward Christine Fingerhuth's seven shots, including two on goal, kept Lock Haven sophomore goalie Erin Terreson on her toes. Despite allowing the deciding two goals, Terreson finished the game with five saves.
The Eagles' defense worked tirelessly the rest of the game, denying the Lock Haven offense access into the Eagles' half of the field. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard was no longer blank.
The Eagles look to keep their season alive as they travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face second ranked Wake Forest University in the first round of the NCAA tournament at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
You can reach this staff writer at sflynn@theeagleonline.com.
