A third-quarter goal by junior
Elaina Fragassi was the difference Saturday as the No. 1-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team posted a 1-0 victory at No. 10 Lander on a sunny and warm morning at Emerald High School in Greenwood, S.C.
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Shippensburg (2-0) did not allow a shot on goal to Lander (0-1) but was held at bay for the first 42 minutes by the Bearcat defense. The Lander backline was paced by goalkeeper Avery Tworkoski, who denied a pair of Raider penalty strokes (one by
Carme Caracotche Picone in the second quarter and one by
Kayla Snyder in the third quarter).
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With less than three minutes left in the third quarter and on its sixth attacking penalty corner of the match, Shippensburg achieved the decisive strike.
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Emily Bitters delivered an insert that was received by
McKenna Boyle. She passed the ball to her left, where Fragassi delivered a shot from the top of the circle that ramped off a defender's stick and past Tworkoski to make it 1-0.
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The Bearcats managed only one penalty corner, which was earned in the fourth quarter, and only three total shots – each of which were either blocked or off target.
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The Raiders finished with seven shots on goal and six penalty corners. SU has only allowed one shot on goal and one penalty corner through its first two matches.
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Tworkoski made five saves through the first three quarters but was pulled at the start of the fourth quarter. Neither team had a shot on goal in the final 15 minutes.
Liv Schweighart earned her second shutout in as many days for the Raiders.
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Shippensburg's next match is in one week, as the Raiders will host No. 3 Newberry at 11 a.m. Saturday at Robb Sports Complex. It will be a rematch of last year's national championship game.
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SU will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the
2016 NCAA Division II National Championship team during a halftime ceremony at the game.
