Box Score Box Score

Sophomore Tori Ricker sent home the game-winning goal off an assist from sophomore Lucinda Kauffman with less than seven minutes to play on Friday afternoon as the No. 1-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team won a back-and-forth road battle at PSAC East foe and No. 8-ranked LIU Post, 3-2.

The Raiders (6-0) fell behind at the 22:34 mark when 2011 PSAC East Player of the Year Carlee Dragon sent a shot into the back left corner of the cage past SU senior goalkeeper Ciarra Delost for a 1-0 Pioneers (3-1) lead.

Seconds before the first half ended, however, Shippensburg managed to knot the score up with the first career goal from sophomore Ari Saytar – an unassisted rebound off of an LIU Post defender. The Raiders jumped out in front nine minutes into the second half when junior Taylor Bender capitalized on a Pioneer defensive miscue and sent in her fifth goal of the season into an empty cage for a 2-1 SU advantage.

With less than 10 minutes left in the contest, LIU Post tied the game back up at 2 when Dragon again found the back of the cage, this a shot to the upper left part of the cage on a play off of a penalty corner.

Exactly one minute later, however – with seven minutes left – Ricker netted her second goal in as many games when she took a long pass from Kauffman and sent it into the back left of the cage for the game-winner.

Shippensburg out-shot the Pioneers, 18-8 and held a 9-4 advantage in penalty corners. Delost made five saves in goal and junior Katie Shoop had a defensive save.

The Raiders hit the road again tomorrow, traveling to PSAC East opponent and No. 10-ranked East Stroudsburg for a 1 p.m. contest.