Junior
Elaina Fragassi scored both of the goals for the No. 3 Shippensburg University field hockey team Wednesday night, including the game-winner 93 seconds into overtime, to propel the Raiders to a 2-1 victory at Millersville in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) match at the Biemesderfer.
Shippensburg (10-2, 4-1) earned 10 penalty corners while allowing just one to Millersville (3-10, 0-5), but the two teams combined for just eight shots on goal in a match that was deadlocked for the final 34 minutes.
Fragassi established momentum out of the gate by ripping a reverse hit from the top of the circle just 2:43 into the contest – her team-leading seventh goal of the season – that gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead.
Less than three minutes before halftime, the Marauders capitalized on a giveaway by the Raiders. Senior midfielder Lauren Kampi gained possession and chipped it through a defender as she advanced along the end line, eventually firing a shot that was turned aside by senior goalkeeper
Grace Meinke.
Erin Esterhuizen grabbed the rebound and sent a shot into the lower left portion of the cage for her fourth goal of the season that made it 1-1.
SU earned eight penalty corners in the second half – four in each of the final two quarters – but could not find the go-ahead strike. Kate Hanlon made a total of two saves in the second half for the Marauders, while Meinke stopped the only shot taken by the hosts over the final 31 minutes of play.
Fragassi's golden goal was a splendid individual effort off the only penalty corner in overtime, as she raced in to receive the insert that had yet to reach the edge of the circle. She not only dribbled the ball back to the edge of the circle as required, but did so while staving off the defensive advances of a hard-charging Kampi.
From there, Fragassi maneuvered to her left and gained enough separation to blister a low rocket into the lower right portion of the cage. It gave the Raiders their second overtime victory of the year, with both golden goals being achieved off penalty corners.
Wednesday's triumph marked the first collegiate victory in goal for Meinke, who was making her first start since her freshman season in 2023 when she played for Queens (Charlotte).
Shippensburg is back in action at noon Saturday when it hosts No. 1 Kutztown at Robb Sports Complex. Before the match, the team will honor its five seniors:
McKenna Boyle,
Carme Caracotche Picone, Meinke,
Kayla Snyder and
Hannah White.
