Gallery: (11-13-2026) 2026 Field Hockey vs. #5 IUP (PSAC Semi)
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The No. 2 Shippensburg University field hockey team triumphed in a pressure-packed penalty shootout to defeat No. 5 IUP in a thrilling Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) semifinal Friday afternoon at cold and windy Robb Sports Complex, 1-0.
Shippensburg (15-2) had the overwhelming majority of the opportunities in regulation and in overtime, resulting in 14 saves for IUP (13-6) goaltender Celeste Pagliaroli. SU goalie Grace Meinke stood tall during the penalty shootout, however, stopping four of five IUP attempts in a virtuoso performance that propelled the Raiders to the conference final.
SU poured on the pressure in the second half of regulation, sending 19 shots on the Crimson Hawk cage and totaling 14 attacking penalty corners during that stretch.
Both teams were running out of gas by the beginning of the two 10-minute seven-on-seven overtime periods. Each team managed just one shot in the two overtime frames.
Meinke stoned IUP's first two attempts in the shootout, including a denial of 15-goal scorer Kasey Rieger. Meinke's scramble ability stood out in the shootout, helping her to deny not just the initial shot but also the subsequent rebound.
Anne Gardner began the shootout for Shippensburg by hammering home her own rebound to give the hosts an initial advantage.
Elaina Fragassi then performed a spinning toe drag to send Pagliaroli the wrong direction before tucking a shot past her left pad to make it 2-0.
Juana Caracotche Picone feigned a reverse hit, getting Pagliaroli to commit. Juana kept her composure, calmly dribbling past the prone IUP goalie before slotting home the game-winner.
SU finished with a 25-to-4 total advantage in shots and a 14-to-2 margin in penalty corners. Fragassi and Hannah White each recorded a team-best four shots on goal.
Prior to the shootout, Meinke faced just four shots (two on goal) and two penalty corners, registering two saves.
The win marked the Raiders first penalty shootout win since Sept. 17, 2022 – a 2-1 win over Belmont Abbey in South Carolina.
Shippensburg will play the winner of Friday's second semifinal, No. 1 Kutztown, in the PSAC championship Sunday at noon The Golden Bears defeated No. 4 East Stroudsburg 2-0 Friday.
