By: By: Bill Morgal and Ryan Houck, SU Sports Information
Box Score
INDIANA, Pa. - The Shippensburg University field hockey team clinched the PSAC Western Division Championship on Saturday afternoon from Miller Stadium after earning a 3-0 decision over rival Indiana (Pa.) and by virtue of the victory has earned the right to host the 2009 PSAC Field Hockey Championships on October 30-31.
Shippensburg (17-1, 7-0 PSAC West) registered its third straight win over the Crimson Hawks dating back to last season on the offensive strength of sophomore forward
Kristina Taylor, who scored all three goals for the Lady Raiders. It was the second hat trick of the season and the sixth multiple-goal game of the season for Taylor.
Her first goal came off a penalty corner with just five minutes remaining in the first half - her fifth game-winning goal of the season. Five minutes into the second half, freshman
Ashley Taylor set up Kristina's second goal of the game. She rounded out the scoring with an unassisted tally at the 63:07 mark.
Senior goalkeeper
Amanda Houser accumulated seven saves to help Shippensburg record its 11th shutout of the season, tying the 2001 squad for the most shutouts recorded by a Lady Raider team under the direction of head coach
Bertie Landes.
Saturday's performance marks the first time since the 2003 season that Shippensburg has both swept the regular season series from Indiana (Pa.) and blanked them off the scoreboard in both meetings. The Crimson Hawks have only recorded one goal in the last three meetings against the Lady Raiders.
Shippensburg last hosted the PSAC Field Hockey Championships in 2005. That season, the Lady Raiders won their first and only conference title by defeating Kutztown 6-2 in the semifinals and then coming from behind in the championship game to defeat Bloomsburg, 5-4.
Shippensburg will celebrate Senior Day at Robb Sports Complex at 4 p.m. next Thursday against Seton Hill in the team's final home game of the regular season. SU will recognize its seven seniors in pre-game ceremonies while holding a canned food drive that benefits the King's Kettle Food Pantry.
