WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Shippensburg University field hockey team was defeated on Sunday in the 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship match, falling 3-1 to host seed and No. 1-ranked West Chester on a cool and grey afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
 
Shippensburg (16-4) trailed 2-0 at halftime and could not sustain consistent offensive pressure until the final 20 minutes of play, during which the Raiders earned five penalty corners and fired four shots on goal. Its lone tally came on a penalty stroke by sophomore Jazmin Petrantonio with 3:04 remaining.
 
West Chester (17-2) blitzed Shippensburg with two goals in the first nine minutes of play and controlled possession during the first half. The Golden Rams recorded a 13-1 advantage in shots and a 5-0 margin in penalty corners during the opening 35 minutes. Both WCU tallies came on well-executed penalty corners.
 
Despite the early onslaught, Shippensburg countered with sustained pressure during the second half. SU fired multiple shots on goal during its run of penalty corners but could not get a shot past Golden Ram goalkeeper Marizza Elizardo.
 
With 3:37 remaining, Kaitlin Hatch gave the hosts a 3-0 lead with a wicked reverse hit from the top of the scoring arc that flew into the top left corner of the cage. Thirty-three seconds later, an SU offensive rush featured freshman Adrienne McGarrigle being tripped by Elizardo in the scoring arc, which resulted in the stroke converted by Petrantonio.
 
Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Ally Mooney made eight saves for the Raiders to keep the team in the game. Mooney finished with seven or more saves in all three PSAC Tournament games this season.
 
Petrantonio's goal is her 23rd of the year – the most by a Raider in a single season since Kristina Taylor had the same amount in 2011.
 
The loss ends a nine-game winning streak for the Raiders that dated back to Oct. 9, when West Chester posted a 4-2 victory at Robb Sports Complex. SU's four losses this season have all come at the hands of either West Chester (twice) or East Stroudsburg (twice) – the Top 2 regionally-ranked teams in the Atlantic.
 
Shippensburg played in its 12th PSAC Championship game on Sunday and first against West Chester. SU's lone conference title came in 2005.
 
UP NEXT: NCAA Selection Show, 3 p.m. Monday on ncaa.com.