YORK, Pa.—
Angelina Catania made a season-high seventeen saves, but Eastern University Field Hockey only found the cage once in a 6-1 MAC Commonwealth loss at York. With a finish off a loose ball in the circle early in the second quarter,
Brynne Miller became the first Eastern player to score against the Spartans.
York came into today's MAC Commonwealth opener on the heels of a double-overtime win at No. 4 Salisbury. Coupled with their overtime win at No. 5 Johns Hopkins, the hosts came into the match with good momentum.
Though the Spartans (7-3, 1-0) had the bulk of the play in the early going, the Eastern defense did not allow a shot or a penalty corner until the 12th minute of the match. The Spartans opened the scoring on a penalty corner goal with less than four minutes to play in the opening frame. Though the hosts had three more shots and a penalty corner to close the period, the Eagles held the gap at a goal going to the second period.
The Eagles (7-3, 0-1) fought off another penalty-corner chance early in the second before earning an opportunity in the 20th minute. ON their first penalty corner of the game, the Eagles kept the ball in the circle for a second serve from the left side and Miller followed her own shot for her fifth goal of the year.
York took the lead for good on a penalty stroke in the 24th minute and added an insurance goal two minutes later.
Catania had nine saves in the first half.
After scoring twice in the third, the Spartans added their final goal with less than three minutes to play.
The Eagles will travel to Virginia to play at Bridgewater College on Tuesday before coming home for another tough MAC Commonwealth test against Messiah on Friday.
