The No. 2 Shippensburg University field hockey team extended its win streak to eight games and claimed its third straight victory without conceding a goal with a 2-0 triumph against Mansfield in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action at Karl Van Norman Field.
Shippensburg (13-2, 7-1 PSAC) scored twice in a little over a minute span during the second quarter courtesy of
Isabel Rios and
Anne Gardner to aid another outstanding effort defensively, as SU held Mansfield (6-11, 2-6) to just five total shots (three on goal) in the game.
The Mountaineers kept the Raiders off the scoreboard initially thanks to three separate defensive saves from defender Jordan Brunnabend, including two one to deny
Hannah White during the sequence that led to the opening goal.
The Raider found the answer to the Mansfield defense on a penalty corner with 4:17 remaining in the second quarter, as the persistent work of White in front of the Mansfield goal opened the door for Rios, who pinched the near side of the goal following her initial penalty corner insert and hammered the ball home.
The Raiders made it back-to-back goals just 1:14 later. White opened up the Mountaineer defense with an outstanding run from her position in midfield. She then sent the ball into an open space on the goal mouth, where Gardner was able to beat her mark and redirect the entry past Mansfield goalie Lydia Miller to make it 2-0 Shippensburg.
Grace Meinke made three saves in the SU cage to record her third straight shutout victory.
Miller, meanwhile, faced 12 shots on goal and was credited with seven saves.
Next up, the Raiders conclude their regular season with a matchup at IUP Friday at 3 p.m. SU can clinch a PSAC regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the PSAC Tournament with a victory.
