CENTER VALLEY, Pa. Five different Eagles got into the scoring column as the Juniata field hockey team scored five times in the second half enroute to a 6-1 win over DeSales on Wednesday night. With the victory, JC improves to 3-4 while the Bulldogs fall to 1-6.
The Eagles dominated the first period in shots by a 14-5 margin. Despite the difference, JC did not score until the 28th minute. Allison Groft (Hanover, Pa./South Western) chipped a shot over DeSales goalkeeper Savannna Lacek's head and the ball was redirected into the cage by Melissa Rutherford (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) to put the Eagles ahead, 1-0.
It was all Juniata in the second half. In the 49th minute, Katie Alexander (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) passed to Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) for the score to put the Eagles ahead 2-0. Alexander would assist Brittani LaFollette (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) on her goal in the 54th minute on a long pass that LaFollette scored on a breakaway. Less than two minutes later, Alexander connected with Rutherford for the goal to give JC a 4-0 lead.
Molly Nowell (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) registered her first career goal in the 61st minute on an assist from Brittany Meier (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College). Meier scored herself less than three minutes later with a helper from Bilheimer. The Eagles nearly had the shutout but DeSales got on the board with 25 seconds left to play in the game.
Kylie Edwards (Danville, Pa./Danville) received the start in goal and recorded three saves. Santana Mays (Parkton, Md./Hereford) came in the second half and stopped two shots. Jess Gray (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) also saw time and did not record a save. Kelsey Leibelsperger (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) had one defensive save.
Despite being outshot 8-7 in the second half, Juniata enjoyed a 21-13 advantage overall. The Eagles also led in penalty corners, 16-13.
Juniata returns to Knox Stadium for their first Landmark Conference game of the season when it hosts Drew. Game time will be at 1 p.m.