EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The No. 1 Shippensburg University field hockey team scored a goal in each half on Saturday afternoon to defeat No. 3 East Stroudsburg, 2-1, in an NCAA Quarterfinal from Whitenight Field. SU advances to the NCAA Final Four to be held next weekend in Massachusetts.
 
The win marked the 300th victory at Shippensburg for head coach Bertie Landes, who now boasts a 300-77-1 record in her 18th season leading the Raiders. Landes is the winningest active coach at the NCAA Division II level.
 
Shippensburg (18-3) opened the scoring with 12 minutes remaining in the first half, as senior Cassie Rawa was credited with a goal on a tip play on the edge of the box after junior Emily Barnard sent a shot go through the legs of ESU keeper Danielle Ard.
 
The opening goal was set up by a brilliant intercept near midfield by senior Suzanne Muller, who stopped a hard hit and then sent a pass up the field to create the scoring opportunity.
 
SU carried that 1-0 lead into halftime, and got a crucial goal less than a minute into the second half. Senior Katelyn Grazan used a brilliant stick reverse to slam home her team-leading 10th goal of the year and extend the Raider lead to two goals.
 
East Stroudsburg (15-5) put on a furious charge down the stretch, and did get within a goal with 17 minutes to play. The Warriors converted a penalty corner on a shot from the top of the box that got past screened redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Ally Mooney.
 
Mooney, the nation's leader in goals-against average (GAA) and save percentage, finished with seven saves to key the victory. Senior Taylor Fisher also had a sterling defensive save just before the Warrior tally, fully extending her body to lay out her stick to stop what would have been a sure goal.
 
Overall, East Stroudsburg posted a 13-7 edge in shots and an 11-5 edge in penalty corners.
 
Shippensburg will face No. 2 Millersville in the NCAA Semifinals on Friday, Nov. 18 at W.B. Mason Stadium in Stonehill, Massachusetts. That match will be held at either 2 or 5 p.m. Check back with shipraiders.com next week for more information on the NCAA Tournament.