SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The No. 1-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team honored its 10 senior players before its Saturday match with IUP and used two goals in both the third quarter and fourth quarter to get past the Crimson Hawks, 4-0, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup at Robb Sports Complex.
 
Shippensburg (15-0, 8-0 PSAC) fired six of its nine shots on goal in the second half and found the back of the cage on four of them.
 
The opening strike came three-and-a-half minutes into the third quarter when a long ball from senior Yasmin De Meyer rolled through a defender and all the way into an unoccupied section of the right edge of the scoring arc. There, senior Nya Gilchrist stayed patient, dribbled around an oncoming defender, and fired a shot into the lower left portion of the cage for her sixth goal of the season.
 
With just more than a minute remaining in the third quarter, SU extended its lead on a penalty corner. Junior Kelly Naudé scored her first goal as a Raider by hammering home a rebound off a shot from sophomore Carme Caracotche Picone that hit freshman Anne Gardner.
 
SU's third goal came five minutes into the fourth quarter and was the result of strong play by four seniors. Gilchrist intercepted a pass near midfield and sent the ball to senior Valu Paul. She found De Meyer streaking up the middle, who then set up senior Alexa Michielsen on the left edge of the circle. A wicked reverse hit from Michielsen found the cage for her seventh goal of the season and a 3-0 Raider lead.
 
With just more than six minutes remaining, Gardner scored her seventh goal of the season to round out the scoring. Senior Taryn Mayer set up the play with a wonderful entry into the box that went to sophomore Mckenna Boyle, who touched it over to Gardner for a nifty reverse finish from the middle of the scoring circle.
 
IUP (5-9, 3-5) was even with the Raiders in the first half and matched the hosts with three shots on goal. Jess Davidson had a couple of strong scoring chances for the Crimson Hawks but was denied on each occasion by redshirt-junior Emma Albee, who made five saves in 56:25 of action.
 
Graduate Kristen McCormick appeared in goal for 3:35 to combine with Albee for the shutout – SU's ninth of the season.
 
IUP goalkeepers Anita Planella and Brooke Eberly combined for five saves.
 
Before the game, the Raiders recognized Brea Borrell, Ashley Button, Emilia Conners, De Meyer, Gilchrist, Josefina Golppi, Mayer, McCormick, Michielsen and Paul in its Senior Day ceremony.
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 4 p.m. Tuesday for its final league match of the season, a home contest against Frostburg State at Robb Sports Complex.

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