HUNTINGDON, Pa. – A splendid post-season run by the Juniata College field hockey team came to an end Sunday with a 6-0 loss at the hands of Lebanon Valley College, in an NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship regional final in Annville, Pa.
The Flying Dutchmen (21-1) scored three times in the first 12 minutes, quickly building a lead which Juniata would be unable to overcome.
Christine Schairer got Lebanon Valley on the scoreboard just 6:40 into the game, when she successfully converted a penalty stroke. Nicole Bomberger extended the Flying Dutchmen lead to 2-0 on a give-and-go play on a penalty corner, with an assist going to Alex Wolfe. Shauna Enck capped Lebanon Valley's initial scoring surge with an unassisted put-back on a loose ball in front of the Juniata cage.
Bomberger scored her second of the day with just 1:54 remaining in the opening half, on a play similar to her first penalty corner goal. Wolfe was again credited with the assist.
The Flying Dutchmen added two more insurance goals in the second half; Wolfe tipped in a shot from Enck to give LVC a 5-0 advantage with 16:59 remaining in the game, and Enck tallied her second of the day with 14:52 left on the clock when she put back a rebound off a shot by Wolfe.
Juniata managed just a pair of shots on goals during the afternoon, both off the stick of Kim Wagner (Middletown, Pa./Middletown).
Lebanon Valley outshot Juniata 22-5, and had a 9-3 advantage in penalty corners. Junior goalie Abby Funk (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) started the game and allowed three goals while making five saves in a little under 20 minutes of action. Moira Nugent (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) played approximately 39 minutes in the Juniata goal, allowing three goals while turning aside six shots; Denalyn Spratt (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights) saw the field for 11-and-a-half minutes, and was not credited with any saves.
Caitlin Baro played all 70 minutes in the Flying Dutchmen goal, making two saves.
Juniata finished its season with a 21-2 mark, establishing new standards for most wins in a season, as well as consecutive wins (13) and most goals scored in a season (67).
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