Gallery: (11-5-2023) 2023 Field Hockey vs. ESU (PSAC Final)
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University field hockey team came up short in the 2023 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship game on Sunday, dropping a 2–1 double-overtime decision to host East Stroudsburg on a sunny afternoon at Whitenight Field.
It was the first time that Shippensburg (15-4) and East Stroudsburg (17-2) had ever met in the PSAC Championship match. It is also the first PSAC Championship match was decided in double overtime since 2007 (IUP defeated Bloomsburg, 4-3, on a goal at the 82:27 mark).
The Top 2 teams in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) rankings played a contest that was quite emblematic of those labels. The match featured frequent momentum shifts and superb goaltending from both redshirt-sophomore
Emma Albee and NFHCA First Team All-American Amy Supey; the two keepers combined for 18 saves.
Sunday's Championship featured an incredible 38 penalty corners, including 25 by ESU (including six in double overtime). Albee finished with 11 saves for the Raiders, one short of her career high set Friday in the PSAC Semifinal overtime shutout of Kutztown.
The Raiders held a 1-0 lead at halftime, with the difference being the 19th goal of the season from junior
Tess Jedeloo, who scored with 5:54 left in the second quarter off a penalty-corner insert from freshman
Hannah White.
SU brought the pressure early in the first quarter, earning the first penalty corner with three minutes into the match. Junior
Valu Paul and sophomore
Agus Garibaldi forced two saves from Supey. The Warriors earned five penalty corners in the final five minutes of the frame, forcing one save from Albee and a blocked shot by the Raiders defense.
ESU carried its momentum into the second quarter, getting a big opportunity just two minutes in. Albee dove to her left to make a big stop on an open goal to keep the match scoreless. The Raiders responded just two minutes later as Jedeloo fired away two shots that were blocked and saved.
Jedeloo's goal came soon after, as she hammered a low shot past Supey for the lead.
The Warriors responded by forcing Albee to make a save from a one-on-one opportunity. ESU then earned another five penalty corners in the final four minutes of the second quarter. Shippensburg made an important defensive stand under pressure as Albee made another save and the defense got sticks in the way to block three shots and preserve the lead.
Down 1–0, ESU came out in the third quarter with pressure, earning a quick penalty corner. Albee was needed again, stopping a hard shot through traffic then sprawling to her right to stop a second shot off the rebound. Karaline Stelma tied the game with 2:43 left in the third quarter. Albee produced another save from a penalty corner, but Stelma put home the rebound to even the score heading into the final quarter. It was Stelma's first goal of the season.
Both sides tightened up defensively in the fourth quarter as only ESU took just one shot on target. The shot came with 1:25 left in the game as Albee showed off acrobatics, making a huge save to send the match into overtime tied 1–1.
One of the pivotal moments of the match came late in regulation when Charlotte Simon was assessed a seven-minute penalty for a trip. SU had a player advantage and more room on the field with less players in overtime; it earned three corners but could only get off a shot from Garibaldi that was blocked. With 6:15 remaining in the first overtime, Jedeloo sent a big reverse hit on goal that was saved by Supey.
Albee made a stop at the other end a few minutes later to halt an ESU penalty corner. Supey made another save on a
Hannah White opportunity with two minutes left, sending the match into a second overtime period.
Jedeloo had the first chance of the second overtime period, firing a high shot to force a save by Supey. A five-minute yellow card for Jedeloo moments later gave ESU the momentum, earning six penalty corners during the frame. SU had finally worked back to even strength, but the 25th penalty corner for the Warriors proved decisive as PSAC Championships Most Valuable Athlete and Player of the Year Jady Van Gils tipped home the golden goal with 2:04 remaining in double overtime.
It was the second time this season that the two teams faced each other; ESU won in a rout back on Oct. 18, 5-1 at Whitenight Field. Last season, ESU won 1-0 in the NCAA Championship game in Seattle after SU had won 1-0 at home in the regular season.
The NCAA Division II National Championships Selection Show will air tomorrow at 3 p.m. on ncaa.com.
PSAC Tournament History
Shippensburg is now 20-30 overall in the PSAC Tournament.
Shippensburg made its 14th appearance in the PSAC Championship Game.
Shippensburg has won two PSAC Championships (2005, 2021).
