Posted: Sep 04, 2015
HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Katie Alexander (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) and Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) both scored a pair of goals each as the Juniata field hockey team defeated Bridgewater 4-2 on Friday night at Knox Stadium. The win evens the Blue and Gold's record at 1-1 while Bridgewater falls to 0-2.
It was Alexander that scored first for the Eagles in the 11th minute. Trying to track the ball as she fell to the turf, Alexander lofted a high shot that went over Bridgewater goaltender Amanda Harper and into the back of the cage to give Juniata the 1-0 lead. Juniata controlled possession for much of the first half of play as Bridgewater could only get off one shot.
Almost two and a half minutes into the second half, Juniata struck again. After Bilheimer's penalty corner put the ball in play, Meredith Shephard (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia) fired a shot that Bilheimer redirected into the goal to give JC a 2-0 advantage.
The visiting Eagles would close the deficit in the 46th minute. Following Elizabeth Washington's corner, she launched a shot past goaltender Santana Mays (Parkton, Md./Hereford) and the score stood at 2-1.
Juniata would get the goal back less than a minute and a half later. Brittany Meier (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) passed to Alexander from the left side of the cage and Alexander scored to make it 3-1.
Less than three minutes later, it was Bilheimer's turn. Much like Alexander's first goal of the night, Bilheimer launched a high shot over the Bridgewater goalie and into the back of the cage for a 4-1 lead.
Bridgewater added a second goal in the 62nd minute to halve the deficit again. It was as close as it would get as JC pulled out the victory.
"Our game today was a great look at what we can do as a team," said head coach Caroline Gillich. "We scored four goals and had two more that were discounted, but gorgeous as well. The speed and ability in this team is amazing to watch and the hard work they are willing to put forward is what brings it all together."
JC led in shots 9-5 and in penalty corners, 5-4. Juniata had six shots on goal to Bridgewater's two.
Kylie Edwards (Danville, Pa./Danville) and Mays both played a half in goal. Neither had a save.
"There were standouts in every class which bodes well for the season and our future," stated Gillich. "On a senior heavy team, where 6 out of the 11 starters are often seniors we know we have the knowledge of what we are doing out there and we are depending on those older players to bring this team together the way they did today. Our attack was on fire and right behind them every step of the way was our midfield. Our style of play this season with new personnel added in, is much more attacking than I have seen in past years."
Juniata goes on the road to played Lebanon Valley on Wednesday. Game time will be at 7 p.m.
