By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – An offensive onslaught from the Juniata College field hockey team coupled with its best team defensive effort this season was not enough to stop a late second half goal from pushing Washington & Jefferson (W&J) College to the 2-1 win Tuesday afternoon in Knox Stadium. The Eagles (7-8) held W&J to just four total shots in 70 minutes, the lowest of any of their 2013 opponents, while putting up 13 shots of their own, 10 on goal.
"That was probably the lowest number of shots they've taken this year," said head coach Caroline Gillich of the Presidents. When asked about the defenses performance, she responded that "it wasn't just [the] defense. It was a commitment to playing team hockey and putting pressure on the ball and really limiting their offensive opportunities. We maintained possession in the offensive. Certainly it's a difficult loss anytime that you dominate a game with corners, shots, game play, but another team might get it done in that last 16 yards."
Junior Mikaela Sloan (State College, Pa./State College) earned her first collegiate goal in the 47th minute. She worked her way inside the circle and pushed a ball past the Presidents keeper Kira Bunker to give Juniata the 1-0 lead. Sloan has three points this season, a career best mark.
"Really excited Mikaela put in the first goal of the day," said Gillich. "It was extra exciting for her teammates, because they knew that it was not just her first goal of the season, but her first collegiate goal. She has been playing some of the best hockey of her career this year. She has really, really come on strong."
W&J (9-5) responded with goals in the 55th and 63rd minutes to take the lead and the win. Juniata earned a season-high 16 corners, holding the Presidents to just five. The Eagles back line spent the full 70 on the field.
Juniata remains home this Saturday, Oct. 19 as they return to Landmark Conference play and face Moravian College at 1 p.m. The game is senior day for the Eagles and they will be recognizing the 2014 class beforehand. This is also Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week for the Eagles. They are working to build awareness of the disease by wearing purple all this week, educating about the illness and raising funds for the Pancreas Center at Columbia University.
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