Dan Sherman
Asst. SID
Juniata College
814-641-3513
shermad@juniata.edu
HUNTINGDON, Pa., Juniata College field hockey defeated the DeSales Bulldogs 2-1 at home earlier tonight to win their third game in a row heading into Landmark Conference play. Brittany Meier (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa. / State College Area) scored her third goal of the season and has scored three in the past two games. Allison Groft (Hanover Pa. / South West) scored her team high fourth to clinch the win for the Eagles.
Meier put the Blue and Gold on the board nearly thirty minutes into the match, sniping a penalty shot into the upper right corner for a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The Eagles attacked the DeSales cage in the second half, totaling nine shots in the last thirty-five. Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa. / Freedom) missed a shot wide in the 53rd minute, followed by a blocked shot from Groft. Thirty seconds later, Tori Buser (Allentown, Pa. / Parkland) had a shot blocked on a Bilheimer corner. The Bulldogs were transitioning up-field after the blocked shot, but Bilheimer intercepted the ball in the DeSales zone and found Groft on the right side to earn her third assist of the season. The assist ties her with Groft for the team lead.
DeSales added their goal with just minutes left to play in the game. The Bulldogs tried to mount a rally and had a chance to tie, earning a last second corner. The Bulldogs were not able to get a shot off, after being called for a foul, and with no time left to play Juniata was able to walk away victorious.
Shelby Miller (Pottstown, Pa. / Owen J. Roberts) started and finished the game in between the pipes for the Eagles, saving one and allowing the loan goal in 27:51 minutes of play. Fellow senior Julianne Jones (Middleburg, Pa. / Midd-West) played the middle 42:09 and refused to relent an opposing goal for the third straight contest.
The Eagles substituted and shifted players a lot, something coach Gillich really wanted to do going into the nonconference match, noting that her players were able to, "get some confidence heading into conference play this weekend." She was very pleased with how well her players adjusted to playing different positions stating that tonight's win, "was a team win."
