(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) – Fall weekend saw the Wilson field hockey team head to Bluff City for a game against Rhodes on Sunday afternoon. While Memphis is also known as "Home of the Blues," it wasn't Wilson Blue it was sporting as the Lynx defeated the Phoenix thanks to a powerful offense that benefitted from a second half surge.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 0, Rhodes 4
Venue: Mason Field
Records: Wilson 4-8, Rhodes 5-5
How It Happened
- Rhodes set the pace from the start and tested the Phoenix back line early with 13 shots in the first quarter alone. Only four of them were on goal, but Erin Sullivan (So., Byram, N.J. / Lenape Valley) was there the make the stop each time.
- Sullivan made two more stops at the start of the second quarter before the Lynx eventually broke through on an Abbie Wallace goal 3:40 into the frame. Sullivan made another pair of saves later in the period to keep the Blue and White down just one at the half.
- The pressure kept coming in the second half as Rhodes opened up the third with six shots in the first three minutes. While Sullivan made stops on three of them, more of the Phoenix back line got into the mix as Hannah Bost (Jr., Manheim, Pa. / Manheim Central) picked up a defensive save. She wasn't the only one as later in the quarter Finley Vandevander (So., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) picked one up too, but the rebound on hers allowed the Lynx's Bella Spina to score just seconds later for a 2-0 lead. Payton Kendall (Sr., McConnellsburg, Pa. / Forbes Road) and Madison Hamrick (So., Taneytown, Md. / Union Bridge) added defensive saves to keep the score there heading to the fourth.
- Rhodes broke through a couple of more times with goals coming 2:13 apart in the middle of the quarter, but it didn't come easy as the Phoenix still put up a rugged defense with four more saves. Three came from Sullivan while Kendall added a second defensive save.
Inside The Numbers
- In total, Wilson made 19 saves were made, the most since the Phoenix stopped 19 against Susquehanna on September 20, 2018. In that game Brooke McLachlan made 18 saves for the Blue and White.
- Sullivan's 14 saves are a new career-high surpassing the 10 she made against Lebanon Valley last season.
- The five defensive saves made by the Phoenix are tied for the third-most in a single game this season by any NCAA team. Rochester had eight against St. Lawrence last week and Union had seven against SUNY New Paltz on October 1.
- The last time Wilson had at least five defensive saves was against SUNY New Paltz on November 10, 2021 in the NCAA tournament.
- The Phoenix were limited to two shots on the day. Both were by Lizzie Landon (Sr., West Grove, Pa. / Avon Grove) with one of them on goal.
- Penalty corners favored the Lynx by a 16-3 count.
Up Next
The Phoenix will be back in United East competition for the rest of the season. Their next contest will come in two days when they take on Lancaster Bible at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
