No.3 ESU field hockey Overpowers Mercyhurst for Third Straight Win

Photo Credit/ ESU Warriors Karly Conway, #21, looking to scoop the ball to her teammate.

Maliyah Jones

Contributing Writer

Coming into the Mercyhurst game, Head Coach Sandy Miller felt confident in her team. She knew they had to take the season one game at a time and they had to come to play, regardless if their opponents were unranked.

And come to play they did, as six Warriors recorded goals at Whitenight Field in ESU’s dominating win on Saturday, Sept. 22nd.

Lead by seniors Paige Harrold and Ashley Ceschini, who each had a goal and an assist, the Warriors made quick work of the Mercyhurst Lakers to solidify a 6-0 win.

By each striking early in the first half, senior Kelli Shapiro’s unassisted opening goal at 16:14 into the game and junior Emily Spangler’s 28:38 goal put the team ahead early and made their presence known on the field to put the Warriors up 2-0 at the half.

But the Warriors were not done yet, as they took the field again in the second half to score four more goals.

Junior Karly Conway scored early in the second half at the five minute mark to add another goal for the Warriors.

Seniors  Ceschini and Harrold increased the lead at the 50 and 60 minute mark, respectively.

Sophomore Samantha Bruttomesso-Clarke finished out the game by recording her first colligate goal with 30 seconds remaining to make the final 6-0.

Junior Kristen English, senior Makenna Marhefka, Ceschini, Harrold, and freshman Morgan Mullen also contributed to the win with assists.

Coach Miller states the team is “playing very unselfishly everywhere and putting the work in to be a solid team.”

“We are very unselfish on attack and our players do not care who scores,” said Coach Miller, “just as long as we are scoring and that is evident by the amount of athletes we have scoring and assisting on our goals on a game to game basis.”

Not only was the stellar win a testament to the perseverance and endurance of the offense, but a prime example of the Warrior’s defensive work ethic as well by putting in work on both sides of the field.

The team held Mercyhurst to just two shots on goal, both of which were saved by sophomore Margret Fulton in the game’s final three minutes.

The Warriors (4-1) had a 24-2 shot advantage over Mercyhurst through the duration of the game. They have outscored their last three opponents 15-0.

The Warriors will take on No. 4 West Chester in a non-conference game on Tuesday, Sept. 25th at Whitenight Field. The battle between the two PSAC teams is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Email Maliyah at:

mjones@live.esu.edu