Box Score

NFHCA Coaches Poll (.pdf)

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Just hours after earning the No. 1 ranking in the latest edition of the 2010 Kookaburra / NFHCA Division II National Coaches Poll, the Shippensburg University field hockey team opened PSAC Western Division play on Tuesday afternoon with a convincing 4-0 victory over Slippery Rock from Robb Sports Complex.

Shippensburg (5-0, 1-0 PSAC West) scored just 73 seconds into the match on a penalty corner opportunity, as sophomore Ashley Taylor fired a shot from the back of the circle that flew through the maze of bodies and into the back of the net. Taylor has scored at least one goal in four of the team's five games this season.

SU maintained a steady territorial edge in the first half and scored again at 26:38 on another penalty corner. Senior Amanda Strous recorded her fifth tally of the season off a feed by freshman Lauren Taylor to put the Lady Raiders up 2-0 at intermission.

In the second half, Ashley Taylor scored her second goal of the game after an entry feed from sophomore Taylor Jones. Sophomore Kerry Senderling rounded out the scoring at 53:30 with her first goal of the season and second of her career off a tip by junior Kristina Taylor.

Slippery Rock (0-4, 0-1 PSAC West) got nine saves from senior keeper Lisa Belcastro but did not sustain any offensive momentum until late in the game. SU held an 11-3 shots advantage in the first half and a 5-1 edge in penalty corners during the first 35 minutes of play.

Sophomore Ciarra Delost made two saves in the contest before freshman Carenna Neely patrolled the cage for the final 5:55.

SU extended its regular season home winning streak to 14 consecutive games and has won its last 19 matches over The Rock dating back to 1999.

No. 1 Shippensburg will host No. 2 Bloomsburg at 1 p.m. Saturday from Robb Sports Complex as the Lady Raider Field Hockey program celebrates the fifth-year anniversary of the 2005 PSAC Championship team. A halftime ceremony will be held recognizing 12 alums of the '05 squad and the team will be collecting canned food donations for Kings Kettle.