ST, DAVIDS, – Eastern University Field Hockey jumped to a 3-0 halftime lead, but the visiting FDU Florham Devils scored three times in the first 11 minutes of the second haf and three more in the final ten minutes of the game to pull away to a 6-3 MAC Freedom win.
How It Happened:
After the two teams combined for only three shots on goal and one penalty corner for the first 24 minutes of the game, the Eagles found a great offensive rhythm and scored three times in a five and a half minute stretch.
Ali Balmer opened the scoring with a weaving run into the circle from the right side. The junior forward pushed a cross toward the middle of the cage, but it never made it through the FDU goalie. Balmer picked up the rebound and jammed it home for her third goal of the season.
Moments later,
Alison Hoag dribbled through the FDU defense and buried her eighth goal of the year.
Joelle Wash capped the Eastern scoring burst with a rebound of her own miss after a strong reverse stick effort. The Eagles held a 3-0 lead at the break without a single penalty corner.
The Devils (10-2, 2-0 MAC Freedom) grabbed two goals back in the first five minutes of the second half. Kelly O'neill scored on a penalty stroke and on a rebound. In the 47th minute, Brooke Sherwin tied the match on another penalty stroke.
Though the Devils had more of the ball, the game stabilized for the Eagles and both teams had chances. The Eagles went down a player on a yellow card, and after five minutes playing short-handed, the Eagles gave up a goal on a penalty corner situation. FDU scored twice more as the Eastern team was forced to push out for the equalizer late.
Coach Azzarano says:
We were very pleased with our three-goal run in the first half. Marley Redfield played an incredible first half in goal, and we did a really good job limiting their chances. FDU took advantage of our breakdowns in the the second half. We made critical errors from the forward line back to the deepest line, and they capitalized. We saw how well we are capable of playing, but we need to figure out how to play a stronger 70 minutes."
Up Next:
It does not get any easier for the Eagles (2-8, 0-2 MAC Freedom) to start next week. Eastern hosts a nationally ranked TCNJ squad on Tuesday and then travels to play in front of a Homecoming crowd at King's of Friday night.
