(MIDDLETOWN, Pa.) – The third-seeded Wilson field hockey team had a tall task as it traveled to the state capital to take on second-seeded Penn State Harrisburg in the United East Championship semifinals on Saturday. The Phoenix were looking to avenge a defeat to the Lions just two weeks prior in the home finale, and while Wilson battled Harrisburg well, the hosts ended up taking this round as well.
The Basics
Score: No. 3 Wilson 0, No. 2 Penn State Harrisburg 4
Venue: PSU Harrisburg Turf Complex
Records: Wilson 5-10, PSU Harrisburg 13-2
How It Happened
- The action was fairly balanced in the early moments as each team generated a penalty corner in the first five minutes. Wilson was the only one to generate a shot from the opportunity, but Lenoree Hoke (Jr., Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) had her attempt blocked. Harrisburg had a couple of more penalty corners, but the Phoenix back line did well to prevent any attempts. That changed as the nation's third-leading scorer Ami Mattingly found the back of the cage on an assist from Bailey Rucker with 1:34 left in the first.
- Wilson didn't go away quietly and had some quality Grade A chances in the second quarter. The first of those came four minutes in as Hoke and Kate Seymour (Jr., Churchton, Md. / Southern) both had near point blank shots stopped by the Lions' Macenzie Mulholland. Midway through the period, a centering pass was just ahead of a rushing Ginnah Kendall (FY, McConnellsburg, Pa. / Forbes Road) en route to a wide-open goal. Kendall eventually got her chance, but was stuffed by Mulholland who seemingly fell onto the ball before knocking it out of the circle with 4:43 left in the half.
- Penn State Harrisburg started to pull away in the third quarter thanks to a pair of goals on penalty corners. Anna Moyer benefited from the second in the quarter as she knocked in a pass from Astrid Comp. Moyer added another with 2:04 left on a pass from Alexis Nasuta. Victoria Castono scored in the fourth to set up the final score.
Inside The Numbers
- Despite the score, Wilson outshot Harrisburg 6-5 overall in the game. However, the Lions held a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Ginnah Kendall, Seymour, and Hoke all had two shots for the Phoenix.
- Penalty corners favored the Lions by a 10-6 margin.
